XN000022-1987-10-30 — Page 10

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1987

AS THE MARINE TRANSPORTATION ROUTE WOULD AFFECT. OYSTER CULTIVATION IN THE AREA, THE GOVERNMENT TOOK MEASURES, INCLUDING MAKING AVAILABLE MORE THAN $4 MILLION IN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES, To HAVE FARMERS REMOVE THEIR OYSTERS FROM THE SEABED 80 THAT WORK WOULD COMMENCE ON SCHEDULE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"80 FAR, 49 OUT OF 90 FARMERS HAVE COLLATERA ALLOWANCES, HE SAID.

H

EX-GRATA

"IN ADDITION, AN OFFER OF $140,000 WAS MADE TO THE YUE WO POND WHICH HAD HELPED DEVELOP OYSTER CULTIVATION IN THE AREA."

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT SINCE DECEMBER 1985, Тод VICKAIST OFFICE BEGAN A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF LAU FU SHA! OYSTER INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, THE NBW TERRITORIBS OYSTER AND CRUSTACEAN UNITED ASSOCIATION AND OTHER CONCERNED BODIES TO DISCUSS COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS.

"AS EARLY AS FEBRUARY 1986, THE FIRST COMPENSATION OFFER WAS MADE TO THE FARMERS AND THEN AGAIN IN LATE AUGUST AND EARLY OCTOBER 1987," HE SAID.

"THE RATE OF EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE WAS ALSO 10 PER CENT," HE ADDED.

IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT CARRIED OUT A JANUARY 1986 AT A TIME WHEN THE OYSTERS WERE READY PREPARATION FOR THE DEMAND DURING THE LUNAR NEW THERE WAS AN ABUNDANCE OF OYSTERS IN THE SEABED ASSESSMENT, THE SPOKESMAN BAID.

INCREASED BY AUT

FREEZING SURVEY FOR HARVESTING YEAR, WHICH TO MERIT ACCURA11

"THE SIDE SCAN SONAR, WHICH IS INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED A8 AS ACCURATE AND PRACTICABLE METHOD OF IDENTIFYING THE PATTERN AND DISTRIBUTION OF BUBMARINE OBJECTS, WAS USED TO CARRY OUT THE SURVEY. HE SAID.

"A SIMILAR SURVEY AND ANOTHER USING DIVERS WERE CARRIED OUT IN JULY THIS YEAR IN THE PRESENCE OF INVITED OYSTER FARMERS,

" HE ADDED.

"TOTAL OYSTER PRODUCTION HAS BEEN STRADILY ON THE DECLINE OVER THE PAST YEARS. EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO IDENTIFY AND COMPENSATE ACTIVE OYSTER FARMERS WITHIN THE MARINE DREDGING ARBA, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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