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FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1982
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MARINE FISH CULTURE ZONES GAZETTED
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TWENTY-FOUR AREAS IN HONG KONG WATERS WERE DESIGNATED AS FISH CULTURE ZONES IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THEY WERE DESIGNATED UNDER THE MARINE FISH CULTURE ORDINANCE, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO REGULATE AND PROTECT THE MARINE FISH CULTURE (MAR ICULTURE) INDUSTRY.
THE DESIGNATED ZONES ARE AT SHA TAU KOK, AP CHAU, KAT 0,
O PUI TONG, SAI LAU KONG, WONG WAN, TAP MUN, KAU LAU WAN, SHAM WAN, LO FU WAT, YUNG SHUE AU, LEUNG SHUEN WAN, TAI TAU CHAU, TIU CHAM WAN, KAI LUNG WAN, KAU SAI, MA NAM WAT, PO TOI O, TIN HA WAN, PO TOI, SOK KWU WAN, LO TIK WAN, TAI A CHAU AND MA WAN.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE, NO PERSON WILL BE PERMITTED TO CULTURE MARINE FISH OUTSIDE THE ZONES. AND IN THE ZONES FISH WILL BE CULTURED ONLY UNDER LICENCE ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. THE ORDINANCE ALSO PROVIDES FOR PENALTIES RANGING FROM $5 000 TO $20 000 FOR ANYONE WHO CAUSES POLLUTION TO FISH ZONES, INTERFERES WITH FISH OR RAFTS IN A ZONE OR FOR THE UNAUTHORISED ENTRY INTO ZONES BY VESSELS EXCEPT IN EMERGENCIES.
DURING APRIL AND MAY THIS YEAR, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHER IES DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MARICULTURE OPERATIONS TO ASCERTAIN THE CURRENT SIZE AND LOCATIONS OF FISH RAFTS. ANY NEW OPERATIONS OR EXTENSIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR LICENSING UNTIL THE SURVEYED OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID THERE WERE SUFFICIENT SITES WITHIN THE 24 GAZETTED ZONES TO ACCOMMODATE ALL EXISTING FISH FARMERS WHO WISH TO CONTINUE THEIR OPERATIONS.
FISH FARMERS COVERED IN THE SURVEY WILL HAVE A GRACE PERIOD OF NINE MONTHS TO OBTAIN A LICENCE AND MOVE THEIR RAFTS INTO AN ALLOCATED ZONE. THE ALLOCATION TO ZONES WILL BE MADE BY BALLOT IN AN ORDER OF PRIORITY. FISH FARMERS SHOULD NOT MOVE INTO THE DESIGNATED ZONES UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO DO SO BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. THE SURVEYED FISH FARMERS WILL ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES TO ASSIST THEM TO
NEW OPERATIONS RELOCATE THEIR RAFTS OR TO WIND-UP THE IR OPERATIONS. OR EXTENSIONS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY ALLOWANCE.
DETAILED PLANS OF THE ZONES ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, ITS FISHERIES OFFICES AND DISTRICT OFFICES AND CITY DISTRICT OFFICES.
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