ENG-2010 — Page 239

Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries 193

The AFCD encourages crop farmers to tap niche markets and to sharpen their competitiveness by cultivating safe and good quality vegetables. The department works with local organic farming groups and the Vegetable Marketing Organisation to promote organic farming and to develop a market for organic vegetables. The department provides an organic farming support service to 152 farms located on about 63 hectares of land. The AFCD also promotes the use of greenhouse technology for intensive high-value crop production. During the year, three improved varieties of vegetable and fruit small-fruited tomato, little red flesh watermelon and green flesh rock melon were introduced to farmers for cultivation in Hong Kong. The voluntary Accredited Farm Scheme managed by the AFCD and the Vegetable Marketing Organisation have been providing a stable supply of high quality and safe vegetables since 1994. A total of 285 farms, spread over 1812 hectares of land, have been accredited under the scheme so far.

Fisheries Industry

Fresh fish is one of Hong Kong's most important primary products. In 2010, fish caught and fish reared in ponds and floating cages at sea amounted to about 171 800 tonnes. Their combined value was $2.28 billion.

Hong Kong's fishing fleet consists of some 3 900 vessels, manned by about 8 200 local fishermen and 4 700 Mainland deckhands. The predominant fishing method is trawling, which accounted for 82 per cent of fish caught, weighing about 138 000 tonnes. Other methods include lining, gill netting and purse-seining. The total catch in 2010 weighed 168 000 tonnes and had an estimated wholesale value of $2.1 billion. The industry provided some 46 000 tonnes of fish for local consumption during the year.

Under licence issued by the AFCD, 1 035 mariculturists operate in 26 designated fish culture zones. They supplied the market with about 1 512 tonnes of live marine fish valued at $118 million in 2010.

Freshwater and brackish water fish are reared in fish ponds, most of which are located in the northwestern part of the New Territories. With the increasing urbanisation of the New Territories, commercial production of pond fish has gradually declined. Pond fish culture yielded some 2 190 tonnes of fish, or 4 per cent of local freshwater fish consumption in 2010.

The AFCD continued to combat destructive fishing practices to promote sustainable development of the fishing industry and to conserve fish resources in Hong Kong waters.

In addition, the AFCD continued to assist fishermen to switch to sustainable modes of operation. Credit facilities were provided for fishermen to switch to sustainable fisheries, or related operations, and for fish farmers to develop their aquaculture business. The department also helped fishermen cope with the annual fishing moratorium in the South China Sea imposed by the Mainland authorities by providing them with technical support, liaison services and credit facilities. To equip fishermen with the skills and knowledge to switch to sustainable modes of