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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1980
AS AN EXAMPLE, HE CITED THAT IT MET THE DEMAND FOR LIVE FISH, WHICH THE CAPTURE FISH INDUSTRY COULD NOT MEET IN FULL.
+THE POPULATION TRADITIONALLY FAVOURS LIVE FISH AND IS PREPARED TO PAY HIGH PRICES FOR IT, HE ADDED.
HE ALSO SAID THE INDUSTRY PROVIDED A MARKET FOR TRASH FISH, WHICH CONSTITUTES BETWEEN FIVE TO TEN PER CENT OF FISH CAUGHT.
+ON THE OTHER HAND, MR. NICHOLS SAID, +MARINE FISH CULTURE, IF ALLOWED TO PROLIFERATE WITHOUT PROPER CONTROL, COULD BLOCK NAVIGATION CHANNELS AND OBSTRUCT USERS OF TYPHOON SHELTERS AND PUBLIC PIERS AND OCCUPY AREAS OF WATER BETTER SUITED FOR RECREATIONAL OR OTHER USES AND SPOIL SCENIC AREAS.
REGARDING POLLUTION, MR. NICHOLS SAID THAT MARINE FISH CULTURE, IF PROPERLY CONTROLLED AND SITED IN SUITABLE AREAS WAS UNLIKELY TO GENERATE POLLUTION.
+IN FACT, CULTURED FISH THEMSELVES ARE HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO WATER POLLUTION. THEY WILL DIE IF, BECAUSE OF AN INADEQUATE TIDAL FLOW, OXYGEN IS INSUFFICIENT, OR IF THERE IS AN EXCESS OF NUTRIENT CONTÉNT OR OTHER POLLUTANTS IN THE SEA,+ HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT IT WAS THEREFORE IN THE INTEREST OF OPERATORS TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF WATER BY EXERCISING PROPER MANAGEMENT.
ENACTMENT OF THE BILL WILL MEAN SETTING ASIDE SPECIFIC AREAS FOR MARINE FISH CULTURE.
IT IS INTENDED TO GAZETTE ZONES OF ABOUT 360 HECTARES OF WATER, MOST OF WHICH ARE ALREADY OCCUPIED BY FISH FARMERS. THESE ZONES WILL BE AWAY FROM NAVIGATIONAL CHANNELS, TYPHOON CHANNELS, PUBLIC PIERS AND GAZETTED BEACHES.
THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN PLACED TO HAVE ONLY MINIMAL EFFECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND THE AESTHETIC ENVIRONMENT NEAR COUNTRY PARKS.
ABOUT 1 700 RAFTS OR 74 PER CENT OF EXISTING FISH CULTURE OPERATIONS LIE WITHIN THE PROPOSED AREAS AND OWNERS WOULD BE PERMITTED TO CARRY ON THEIR BUSINESS PROVIDED THEY COMPLY WITH RELEVANT CONDITIONS.
MR. NICHOLS NOTED THAT SOME MINOR RESITING OF RAFTS WITHIN INDIVIDUAL ZONES MAY BE NECESSARY.
+THE OPERATORS OF THE 600 RAFTS (26 PER CENT) LYING OUTSIDE THE PROPOSED ZONES WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR RELOCATION WITHIN THE SPECIFIED ZONES, PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO SUCH RELOCATION OF ESTABLISHED RAFTS AS COMPARED TO NEWCOMERS WISHING TO ENTER THE INDUSTRY, NEWCOMERS WILL BE PERMITTED TO OPERATE ONLY WITHIN THE SPECIFIED ZONES,+ SAID MR. NICHOLS,
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT DETAILS OF THE LEGISLATION, ITS PROVISIONS AND PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY THOSE WISHING TO APPLY FOR A LICENCE WILL REQUIRE CAREFUL EXPLANATION OVER SEVERAL MONTHS AND THE PROVISION REQUIRING MARINE FISH CULTURE OPERATORS TO OBTAIN LICENCES WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON A DATE TO BE SPECIFIED BY THE GOVERNOR.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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