XN000022-1992-02-03 — Page 4

3

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1992

CONCERTED EFFORT TO BOOST FISHING INDUSTRY

LANDINGS SOLD THROUGH FISH MARKETS OF THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION (FMO) LAST YEAR HAD RISEN TO 76,000 TONNES WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF $680 MILLION.

THIS WAS DESPITE LABOUR SUPPLY TENSION AND GRADUAL DECREASE THE RESOURCES OF CONVENTIONAL FISHING GROUNDS.

AT THE FMO'S ANNUAL PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT ABERDEEN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET TODAY (MONDAY), THE DIRECTOR AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE SAID:

IN

THE

OF

"THIS WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE CONCERTED EFFORT OF THE FISHERMEN, THE FMO AND THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

"OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE FMO CONTINUED TO TAKE THE NECESSARY MEASURES TO MAINTAIN GOOD MARKET ORDER IN THE VARIOUS WHOLESALE MARKETS SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THE TRADING OF FISH IS CONDUCTED IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER AND AT FAIR PRICES.

DR LEE SAID THE ORGANISATION AND THE POLICE HAD BEEN JOINING FORCES IN COMBATTING ILLEGAL MARKETING ACTIVITIES.

LAST YEAR, 52 CASES HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED WITH ALL THE OFFENDERS FINED AND THEIR CATCHES CONFISCATED.

"THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF AMENDING LAW GOVERNING THE TRANSPORTATION OF MARINE FISH AT SEA IN ORDER TO FURTHER COMBAT ILLEGAL MARKETING ACTIVITIES," HE CONTINUED.

DR LEE URGED FISHERMEN TO CONTINUE THEIR CO-OPERATION BY MARKETING THEIR FUTURE CATCHES THROUGH THE FMO MARKETS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MARINE FISH (MARKETING) ORDINANCE.

AT

ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW FISHING GROUNDS, DR LEE SAID THE FMO AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) HAD CONTINUED ΤΟ CONDUCT TRIAL FISHING WITH THE JAPANESE-DESIGNED DEEP-SEA TRAPS ABOUT 200 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF HONG KONG TO ASSESS THE RESOURCES OF DEEP SEA PRAWNS IN THE AREA.

INFORMATION OBTAINED WOULD BE PASSED ON ΤΟ THE FISHERMEN TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THEIR BUSINESS.

ON FISHING RIGHT, DR LEE SAID THE FMO HAD HELPED TO ORGANISE A STUDY TOUR TO THE PHILIPPINES AT THE END OF LAST YEAR TO DISCUSS THE FEASIBILITY OF OBTAINING LEGAL FISHING RIGHT IN PHILIPPINES WATERS FOR HONG KONG FISHERMEN.

HE SAID AN INITIAL PROPOSAL HAD BEEN SENT ΤΟ THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT FOR CONSIDERATION AND IT WAS HOPED THAT FURTHER PROGRESS COULD BE ACHIEVED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

/ON MARKETING