XN000022-1977-05-07 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1977

SURVEY OF PELAGIC FISH RESOURCES

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THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS JUST COMPLETED A SURVEY OF THE PELAGIC FISH RESOURCES IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.

THE SURVEY FORMS PART OF A LONG-TERM PROGRAMME TO EVALUATE PELAGIC FISH RESOURCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF MEETING INCREASES IN THE FUTURE LOCAL DEMAND FOR FOOD FISH.

THE RESEARCH VESSEL, CAPE ST. MARY, MADE A TOTAL OF THREE TRIPS COVERING A DISTANCE OF 1,500 NAUTICAL MILES TO THE TRADITIONAL FISHING GROUNDS OF THE HONG KONG FLEET.

ON THE FIRST TWO VOYAGES, RESEARCH OFFICERS FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WERE JOINED BY CONSULTANTS FROM THE SOUTH CHINA SEA FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT AND CO-ORDINATING PROGRAMME.

DEEP.

THE SURVEY CONCENTRATED IN WATERS OF 50 TO 100 METRES

ON OCCASION, HOWEVER, IT WAS EXTENDED TO BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF TO GAIN PRELIMINARY KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCES IN THE DEEPER AREAS WHICH WOULD BE SUBJECT TO FUTURE INVESTIGATION.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE SOPHISTICATED ACOUSTIC EQUIPMENT, WHICH WAS FITTED ON THE RESEARCH VESSEL RECENTLY, MADE POSSIBLE A DETAILED STUDY OF THE TOTAL WATER COLUMN, SHOWING AMONG OTHER THINGS A PREDOMINANCE OF PLANKTONIC LAYERS SPECIALLY BETWEEN SUNSET AND SUNRISE.

SCHOOLS OF PELAGIC FISH (JUVENILE ANCHOVIES), OCCUPYING AN AREA OF SEVERAL SQUARE MILES, WERE DETECTED IN WATERS BETWEEN 50 AND 65 METRES DEEP, INDICATING A CONSIDERABLE RESOURCE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THAT NO INFORMATION ON THE QUANTITY OF THE FISH COULD BE OBTAINED DUE TO LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH VESSEL.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE DEEPER AREAS, SOUND SCATTERING LAYERS PROBABLY OF FISH ORIGIN WERE ALSO DETECTED AT 200-250 METRES AND THIS WOULD BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED IN FUTURE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE SURVEY WOULD BE REPEATED IN THE SUMMER AND AGAIN IN THE AUTUMN WHEN HYDROGRAPHIC CONDITIONS WERE DIFFERENT.

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