ENG-1960 — Page 130

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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lots. Most of them occurred early in the year under review and, regrettably, most were due to the carelessness of the public.

FISHING

Administration. Government's aim is to foster the orderly ex- pansion and development of the Fishing Industry, to increase supplies of fish to meet the needs of an expanding population and to enhance the economic status of those engaged in the industry. A Fisheries Division was established in 1952 under the administra- tion of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department and, in the same year, a Fisheries Research Unit was formed by the University of Hong Kong. A Fisheries Advisory Committee, on which both were represented, co-ordinated matters of common interest; the Co-operative Development Department, which was responsible for the supervision of fishermen's co-operative societies and the administration of the Fish Marketing Organization, also took part.

The disadvantages of this divided responsibility were such that Government decided with the agreement of the University to set up a single authority to direct fisheries activities; in July this year the Fisheries Division was transferred to the renamed Co-operative Development and Fisheries Department and was joined one month later by the Fisheries Research Unit, now known as the Fisheries Research Station. As fresh water pond fisheries in Hong Kong are closely connected with land utilization, extension work on commercial fish ponds remained with the Agriculture and Forestry Department, although the basic research work into pond fisheries is the responsibility of the new department.

Marine fisheries extension activities include investigations and demonstrations of fishing methods, craft and fishing gear; the introduction of new fishing techniques; the promotion and sound development of the mechanization programme; the training of fishermen for certificates of competency as masters and engineers; and the extension of oyster farming and of an important new industry, the culture of pearl oysters.

Problems such as overfishing and the conservation of fish re- sources receive attention and the Department also takes part in the activities of the Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council of FAO. Two