ENG-2000 — Page 186

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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The voluntary Accredited Farm Scheme implemented by the AFCD and the Vegetable Marketing Organisation since 1994 aims to supply clean and safe vegetables. This programme has continued to expand with an additional 17 farms accredited. The organisation has also created a new 'Good Farmer' cartoon logo to promote accredited produce.

Livestock farmers are encouraged to adopt sustainable production practices that minimise the impact on the environment. Through improved vaccination and other disease prevention programmes, the reliance on the use of veterinary chemicals has been reduced. To ensure food safety, a new regulation to control the use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals (including clenbuterol) in food animals and to formalise the voluntary identification system for pigs, cattle and goats destined for market currently in place will be introduced.

Livestock farmers are also required to install and operate waste treatment systems under the Livestock Keeping Licensing Scheme to prevent pollution of watercourses. At the end of 2000, the AFCD had issued 716 licences and 42 licence applications were being processed.

The poultry industry has continued to maintain good hygiene standards. In 2000, the AFCD implemented additional measures to monitor poultry health so as to protect public health including the reinforced pre-sale testing of chickens in local farms before their transfer to the market. Surveillance for influenza viruses was also strengthened.

The Fisheries Industry

Fresh fish constitute one of Hong Kong's most important primary products. Productions from capture and culture fisheries in 2000 were estimated at about 157 010 tonnes and 4 660 tonnes respectively, with a total value of $1.7 billion.

The Hong Kong fishing fleet, manned by 11 900 local fishermen and 5 200 Mainland deckhands, comprises some 5 250 vessels of which 2 690 are sampans or non-mechanised boats. The predominant fishing method is trawling, which accounted for 85 per cent of the catch, or 133 458 tonnes, in 2000. Other fishing methods include lining, gill netting and purse-seining. The total fish catch in 2000 amounted to 157 010 tonnes, with an estimated wholesale value of $1.6 billion. Discounting the catch landed or sold outside Hong Kong, some 69 120 tonnes of the catch were supplied for local consumption during the year, representing 38 per cent of the seafood consumed in Hong Kong.

Under licence from the AFCD, 1418 mariculturists operate in 26 designated fish culture zones. In 2000, they supplied 1 770 tonnes of live marine fish valued at $102 million.

Freshwater fish are cultured in fish ponds covering some 1 060 hectares, most of which are located in the north-west 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 fish culture yielded 2 820 tonnes, or 6 per cent, of freshwater fish for local consumption.