ENG-1998 — Page 185

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Freshwater fish are cultured in fish ponds covering 1 100 hectares, most of which are in the north-western New Territories where they form part of the wetland system of conservation interest. The area devoted to fish ponds has gradually declined with the increasing urbanisation of the New Territories. During the year, pond culture yielded 4 900 tonnes, or 11 per cent, of freshwater fish for local consumption.

An extensive red tide outbreak in March and April 1998 seriously affected the marine fish culture industry. It was the first time that blooms of Gyrodinium aureolum were encountered as the dominant species in a red tide in Hong Kong. This species. affects fish directly, damaging their gills and killing them quickly. The blooms killed large amounts of fish in most fish culture zones, affecting some 1 500 licensed mariculture operators. Emergency relief grants were released to affected mariculturists. Low-interest loans were made available to mariculturists to help them re-establish their operations.

Fisheries Development

In response to concerns over the impoverishment of marine habitats and decline in fisheries resources in Hong Kong waters, the department is implementing a $100 million project for the deployment of artificial reefs in marine parks and other suitable sites in Hong Kong waters. Artificial reefs will encourage growth and development of a great number and diversity of marine organisms and provide food, shelter and protection for juvenile fish, thus enhancing their chances of survival to maturity. In 1998, 20 boat reefs and 216 tyre reefs were deployed in Hoi Ha Wan and Yan Chau Tong marine parks. Initial results are encouraging as colonisation of the reefs by a diversity of marine life, including juveniles of high-value fish has begun. The consultancy study on artificial reefs deployment outside marine parks has been completed. The recommendations on suitable sites for reefs deployment and an artificial reef management strategy are being considered.

A three-month public consultation exercise ended late in December 1998 after gathering views on the findings and recommendations of the 'Consultancy Study on Fisheries Resources and Fishing Operations in Hong Kong Waters'. This would help the government draw up an appropriate fisheries resources conservation and management strategy for the sustainable development of the fishing industry.

In 1998, the department continued to conduct aquaculture studies directed towards the development of more efficient culture system and improved husbandry techniques. Much effort was directed towards red tide management. The department formed an expert group comprising local academics to advise on measures to deal with red tides. A consultancy study on the monitoring and management of red tides in Hong Kong has been commissioned and is scheduled to complete in March 1999. It will recommend appropriate action plans to monitor red tides and control their impacts. In order to assess the effectiveness of sea-bed dredging as one measure to improve the marine ecological environment in marine fish culture zones, the department launched a trial scheme in the Cheung Sha Wan fish culture zone and planned to do the same later in the Sham Wan and Kau Sai fish culture zones. Subject to the success of this trial, consideration will be given to extending the measure to other major fish culture zones.

Depleted local fisheries have forced many Hong Kong vessels to venture outside Hong Kong waters. There is thus an increasing need to modernise the fishing fleet. To

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