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Fishermen reminded not to adopt illegal fishing practices
Local fishermen are regularly called on not to adopt illegal practices while fishing in Hong Kong and international waters to avoid breaking the law and damaging the marine environment.
The latest reminder has been in the form of a pamphlet, distributed to the local fishing community through Agriculture and Fisheries Department's (AFD) liaison offices and the Aberdeen Fisheries Office. Copies of the pamphlet have also been given to the fishing vessel registration offices of the Marine Department.
An AFD senior fisheries officer, Mr Joseph Sham, said the main objective of the publicity exercise was to remind local fishermen not to use dynamites or poisonous substances including cyanide in fishing at Hong Kong and other territorial waters.
Mr Sham pointed out that under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance, any person found guilty of possessing or using dynamites or poisonous substances in fishing in Hong Kong waters would be liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 fine and six months' imprisonment.
Citing a court case as an example, he said a 34-year-old man was recently fined $5,000 and sentenced to two months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, after being convicted by the Kwun Tong Magistracy for possession of a large quantity of cyanide powder on board his boat off Cape Collinson in March.
This is the first convicted case involving the use of cyanide for purpose of fishing under the ordinance, he said, hoping that relatively heavy penalty would serve as an effective deterrent.
"Apart from breaking the law, fishermen using these methods in fishing could endanger their and other people's lives, cause serious damage to the marine environment and reduce fish landings," said Mr Sham.
To enforce the law and help protect the territory's marine environment and fishery resources, the Marine Police and AFD have stepped up patrols in Hong Kong
waters.
Mr Sham also reminded Hong Kong fishermen to observe marine regulations of neighbouring countries when fishing in their or international waters.