ENG-1967 — Page 117

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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Branch of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department operates in two main divisions; development and extension (including market- ing, credit co-operation and education), and fisheries research.

A major breakthrough in local fisheries development was achieved in 1965 with the successful introduction of a prototype 66-foot wooden stern otter trawler, designed by the Fisheries Branch and built under the supervision of its technical staff in a local boat- yard. Three more of these modern boats have since been built and a further four vessels are currently under construction. All were financed by loans from the Fisheries Development Loan Fund. This change-over from the traditional two-boat, or 'pair', trawling method of fishing to modern single-boat otter trawling has now been copied by the commercial sector; a leading fish dealer has financed the construction of two otter trawlers, while several fisher- men have converted their fishing junks into stern otter trawlers. In all of these cases technical help and training were freely given by the Fisheries Branch. A new class of 86-foot wooden pair trawler has also been designed and introduced by the department. Four boats of this type have been built with government loan money.

Extension work includes investigations into and demonstrations of fishing techniques; the promotion and sound development of a mechanization programme; the training of fishermen for certificates of competency as masters and engineers; and the instruction of local fishermen in navigation and certain duties in connection with the culture of pearls. Over-fishing and the conservation of fish resources are current problems and legislation provides for compre- hensive protection measures, particularly against the use of ex- plosives and toxic substances.

When the main dam of the large new Plover Cove inlet was closed, the departmental, modified, junk-type vessel Yuen Ling was impounded in this future fresh water reservoir to assist in the speedy capture and removal of marine fish and other biological matter, which would have otherwise died and created a serious pollution problem. This boat was also used to dredge the soft mud bottom of the lake to filter out live shellfish and other marine animal material. Dead and dying fish were netted and removed as the water salinity fell.