ENG-1980 — Page 100

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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Fishing Industry Marine fish constitute one of Hong Kong's most important primary products. More than 150 fish species of commercial importance frequent the waters of the adjacent continental shelf. Most important of these in terms of landed weight are golden thread, scads, lizardfish, big-eyes, sardines, conger-pike eels and croakers.

Total estimated production from the two major sectors marine capture and culture fisheries amounted to 194,560 tonnes with a wholesale value of $1,296 million in 1980. These figures represent increases of 2.5 per cent in weight and nine per cent in value com- pared with 1979. Local fishing activities were adversely affected by the high price of fuel oil which rose by 65 per cent during 1980, and this accounted for production increasing at a lower rate (2.3 per cent) than the 17 per cent growth rate achieved in 1979. Of the total production, 96 per cent in weight came from marine capture and four per cent from culture fisheries. In terms of wholesale value, 90 per cent came from marine capture and 10 per cent from culture fisheries.

An estimated 35,700 fishermen work a fleet of 5,400 vessels, of which 94 per cent are mechanised. There are four major types of fishing in terms of gear: trawling, lining, gill- netting and purse-seining. Trawling is the most important, accounting for 64 per cent or 68,900 tonnes of marine fish landed in 1980. The total landed catch of live and fresh marine fish available for local consumption in 1980 amounted to 83,020 tonnes, with a wholesale value of $507 million. This represented 89 per cent of the local consumer demand. Pond fish farming is the most important culture activity. Fish ponds covering 1,820 hectares are located in the New Territories, principally in the Yuen Long district. Tradi- tional pond fish farming is similar to that practised in China for hundreds of years. Several different carp species are cultured in the same pond, each deriving its food from a different source and so making the utmost use of the nutrients introduced. Owing to the increasing urbanisation of the New Territories, the land area devoted to fish ponds has levelled off. During the year, they yielded 7,020 tonnes, or 16 per cent, of the local consumption of freshwater fish.

In the past decade, there has been considerable development in marine fish culture. Young fish, captured from their natural environment, are fattened in cages suspended from rafts in sheltered bays throughout Hong Kong, particularly in the eastern New Territories. In 1980, live marine fish supplied by this activity from some 60 sites amounted to 760 tonnes valued at $38 million. A further 37 tonnes of cultured marine fish, valued at over $1 million, were destroyed by algal blooms which broke out in April, 1980, in Tolo Harbour and Mirs Bay in the New Territories.

Legislation was passed in January, 1980, to promote the orderly development of the marine fish culture industry in the limited sea area available.

Marketing

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is the Much of the wholesale marketing of primary products - particularly fresh foods responsibility of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, and of the vegetable and fish marketing organisations administered by that department. During 1980, 29 per cent of the total quantity of locally-produced vegetables, and 74 per cent of the total landings of marine fish, were wholesaled through the vegetable and fish marketing organisations. Retail marketing of fresh food is a matter for the Urban Council and for the Urban Services Department.

The Vegetable Marketing Organisation operates under the Agricultural Products (Mar- keting) Ordinance, which provides for a board to advise the Director of Marketing (the