ENG-2004 — Page 246

204 Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

AFCD has sought the agreement of the Lands Department to act as agent for them and provides a one-stop service for farmers. During the year, the department assessed 12 applications.

Fisheries Industry

Fresh fish constitute one of Hong Kong's most important primary products. Productions from capture and culture fisheries in 2004 were estimated at about 167 540 tonnes and 3 720 tonnes respectively, with a total value of $1.7 billion.

The Hong Kong fishing fleet comprises some 4 330 vessels which are manned by around 9 770 local fishermen and 4 090 Mainland deckhands. The predominant fishing method is trawling, which accounted for 85 per cent of the catch, or 141 830 tonnes. Other fishing methods include lining, gill netting and purse-seining. The 167 540 tonne total fish catch had an estimated wholesale value of $1.6 billion. Discounting the catch landed or sold outside Hong Kong, some 60 000 tonnes of the catch were supplied for local consumption.

Under licence from the AFCD, 1 125 mariculturists operate in 26 designated fish culture zones. They supplied 1 540 tonnes of live marine fish valued at $79 million.

Freshwater and brackish water fish are cultured in fish ponds covering some

1 030 hectares, most of which are located in the north-western New Territories where they form part of the wetland system of conservation interest. With the increasing urbanisation of the New Territories, commercial fish pond production has gradually declined. Pond fish culture yielded some 1 980 tonnes, or 5 per cent, of freshwater fish for local consumption.

To promote sustainable development of the fishing industry and to conserve fisheries resources in Hong Kong waters, the AFCD continued to pursue a number of fisheries management and conservation measures and to strengthen enforcement against destructive fishing practices. Following the completion of the artificial reef deployment project in 2003, the AFCD initiated an underwater monitoring survey at the deployed artificial reefs at Hoi Ha Wan and Yan Chau Tong Marine Parks, Port Shelter and Long Harbour to assess their performance in enhancing and supporting fisheries populations. Over 220 species of fish, including many high-valued species such as groupers, breams, snappers and sweetlips, have been using the reefs for feeding, shelter and as spawning and nursery areas. The AFCD also conducted another trial on releasing fish fingerlings in Long Harbour, and Hoi Ha Wan and Yan Chau Tong Marine Parks to assess its effectiveness in enriching Hong Kong's marine resources. Moreover, the department continued to assist fishermen in developing offshore fishing and more environmentally friendly and cost-effective fishing techniques, and to cope with the annual fishing moratorium in the South China Sea enforced by the Mainland fisheries authorities through provision of technical support, liaison services and credit facilities.

With the aim of enhancing the sustainability of the local aquaculture industry, the AFCD conducts adaptive development studies and provides technical services to fish farmers. A fish health management programme is in place to help fish farmers