ENG-1967 — Page 118

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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

The department administers the Fisheries Development Loan Fund, which is allotted specifically for the development of the Colony's middle and distant water fleet, for which it has a capital of $5 million. There is close co-operation with the Fish Marketing Organization, which administers two other funds and investigates applications for loans from all three. Together they provide capital of more than $8 million for the development of the industry.

The Fisheries Research Division is engaged in a programme of biological and oceanographic research in the South China Sea, using the 240-ton research trawler Cape St Mary. The main biological effort is directed towards the investigation of the important com- mercial species nemipterus, muraenesox and upeneus. A handbook on Hong Kong fishes was completed, and another on the squids, cuttle-fish and octopus is in preparation. In order to describe the marine environment in which the fishes live, the hydrographic survey of the continental shelf off Hong Kong was continued; this work also constitutes the United Kingdom contribution to the Co- operative Study of the Kuroshio (CSK), a multi-ship international expedition organized by the Inter-governmental Oceanographic Commission. A small research station at Kat O, in Mirs Bay, is investigating the possibility of introducing into Hong Kong waters more exotic species of edible oysters from temperate regions. To develop better methods of fish culture and to encourage the local industry to modernize, pilot experiments with fresh and brackish water fishes are carried out in departmental ponds at Au Tau, in the New Territories.

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The fishing fleet consists of some 6,800 fishing junks of various sizes and designs and five pairs of Japanese-type trawlers, all of which are British registered. The fishing population consists chiefly of Tanka people, and the main fishing centres are Aberdeen and Shau Kei Wan on Hong Kong Island, and Castle Peak, Tai Po and Tolo Channel area, Sha Tau Kok, Sai Kung, Tai O and Cheung Chau in the New Territories. Junks are built locally from imported timber. China fir is the most popular material, though teak and yacal are used increasingly. Most of the fleet is owner-operated, while the rest are directed by fish dealers and fishing companies. Of the fishing fleet's 6,800 junks more than 5,000 are mechanized.