ENG-2008 — Page 235

Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries 183

good management practices. The department also continues to search for new fish species, with market potential, to introduce to local fish farmers.

The AFCD's Accredited Fish Farm Scheme continues to work well. It is a voluntary scheme set up in 2005 to strengthen the aquaculture industry's competitiveness. Participants are required to adopt good practices to raise their farms' hygiene standards and fish quality. Tests, including analyses of drug residues. and heavy metals in fish, are conducted to ensure the cultured fish are safe to eat before they are sold. Eighty farms have so far joined the scheme. Together, they sold over 20 000 kilogrammes of the accredited fish, comprising Pompano, grey mullets and green groupers in 2008. The accredited fish carry tags bearing the scheme's name, 'Accredited Fish Farm Scheme', for easy recognition. The AFCD works with. the Fish Marketing Organisation to encourage the industry to develop quality brand

names.

The AFCD set up an experimental fish hatchery in Ta Kwu Ling in mid-2008 to help farmers rear fish more efficiently. In September, a workshop was conducted there jointly with the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific to help local farmers acquire technical know-how and share practical experience with the overseas experts. The department also succeeded in producing jade perch fry using an induced spawning technique which it introduced to the farmers to help them maintain a stable supply of this species at lower costs.

Specially designed artificial reefs known as biofilters are used to improve water quality and seabed conditions at the fish culture zones. There are biofilters at the culture zones at Kau Sai, Sham Wan and Lo Tik Wan.

The department continues to monitor red tides to protect the mariculture industry. It can now detect these tides as they start to form and take early action to deal with them. Red tide warnings are disseminated through support groups at the fish culture zones. Warnings are also posted on the AFCD's website and conveyed through press releases. In 2008, a total of 15 red tides were recorded in Hong Kong

waters.

Wholesale Markets

Fresh food produce is sold in wholesale markets managed by the AFCD, the Vegetable Marketing Organisation, the Fish Marketing Organisation and the private sector. During the year, the Government's wholesale markets handled 304 000 tonnes of vegetables, 18 000 tonnes of poultry, 46 000 tonnes of freshwater fish. and fish products, 96 000 tonnes of fruit and 56 000 tonnes of eggs with a combined valued of $5.5 billion.

The Western Wholesale Food Market and the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market are the two largest composite wholesale food markets managed by the department. The Western Wholesale Food Market, for example, accommodates markets for freshwater fish, vegetables, fruit, poultry and eggs, enabling customers to purchase a wide range of fresh foods under one roof.