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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1991
TOUGHER ACTION AGAINST OFFENDING MARICULTURISTS
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. DEPARTMENT (AFD) TODAY (SATURDAY) URGED MARICULTURISTS NOT TO DWELL ON FISH RAFTS AND TO RECTIFY THEIR OVERSIZED STRUCTURES ON THE RAFTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AFD'S SENIOR AQUACULTURE
FISHERIES OFFICER, DR PATSY WONG, SAID AFD WOULD BE TOUGH WITH PERSISTANT OFFENDERS.
WERK BROUGHT TO
SINCE NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, 25 MARICULTURISTS COURT FOR MAINTAINING DOMESTIC DWELLING AND OVERSIZED STRUCTURES ON FISH RAFTS.
THEY WERE FINED FROM $200 TO $1,000.
MOST UNDESIRABLE
"DWELLING ON RAFTS IN FISH CULTURE ZONES IS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY REASONS WHILE OVERSIZED STRUCTURES COULD ALSO AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE FISH CULTURE ZONE, DR WONG STRESSED.
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"TO PREVENT THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM OF STRUCTURES TO DRAG ON, CONVICTED MARICULTURISTS WILL BE GIVEN TWO MONTHS TO RECTIFY THEIR IRREGULARITIES.
"SHOULD THEY FAIL то DO SO WITHIN THE SPECIFIED TIME, STRINGENT ACTION, INCLUDING THE REVOCATION OF MARICULTURE LICENCES, WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST THEM."
DR WONG FURTHER REMINDED THAT A LICENCE REVOCATION MEANS THAT THEIR MARICULTURE OPERATIONS WOULD BE RENDERED ILLEGAL.
"FURTHER ENFORCEMENT ACTION WILL THEN BE TAKEN AGAINST UNDER SECTION 6 OR 7 OF THE MARINE FISH CULTURE ORDINANCE, PROHIBITS UNLICENSED PERSONNEL TO ENGAGE IN FISH CULTURE IN HONG WATERS.
THEM WHICH
KONG
"OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $20,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR, AND IN THE CASE OF A CONTINUING OFFENCE, TO A FURTHER DAILY PENALTY OF $500.'
SHE ADDED THAT AS A FINAL RESORT, ACTION MIGHT BK TAKEN ΤΟ SEIZE AND DISPOSE OF THE RAFTS AND FISH CONSTITUTING EVIDENCE OF OFFENCES.
DR WONG EXPLAINED THAT IT IS AN OFFENCE TO PUT UP STRUCTURES ON A RAFT WHICH DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE FISH CULTURE ZONE LICENCE ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.
"SOME FORM OF STRUCTURES OF SPECIFIED AREA WERE PERMITTED RAFTS FOR MANAGEMENT AND KEEP-WATCH PURPOSES.
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"HOWEVER, SOME OPERATORS EXPANDED THEIR STRUCTURES TO MEET THEIR OPERATIONAL NEEDS WHILE OTHERS MISUSED THEIR STRUCTURES FOR DWELLING PURPOSE," SHE CONTINUED.
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