ENG-2011 — Page 243

Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries 203

implement a fish health management programme to help fish farmers prevent, diagnose and contain fish disease to minimise loss.

The AFCD implements a 'Good Aquaculture Practices Programme' to enhance fish farm management. Under the programme, AFCD staff visit fish farms regularly to collect water and fish samples for analysis. Seminars are held for farmers to learn. new techniques and good management practices. The department also continues searching for new fish species that have market potential to introduce to local fish farmers.

The AFCD's 'Accredited Fish Farm Scheme' continues to work well. This voluntary scheme was set up to strengthen the aquacultural 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. A total of 105 farms have joined the scheme so far.

Together, they sold over 12 000 kilogrammes of the accredited fish, comprising pompano, grey mullets, green groupers, star snappers, skewband grunts, red snappers, red drum, mangrove snapper and black spotted croakers in 2011. The accredited fish carry tags bearing the scheme's label, 'Accredited Fish Farm Scheme', for easy recognition. The AFCD works with the Fish Marketing Organisation to encourage the industry to develop quality brand names.

Continuous efforts have been made by the AFCD to promote the development of local fish hatcheries and nurseries. A number of workshops on induced spawning and fry production of Jade Perch was held in 2011 to help fish farmers acquire the necessary techniques.

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 these zones at Kau Sai, Sham Wan and Lo Tik Wan. Alternative designs of biofilters are being explored to suit the conditions of different fish culture zones.

To meet public demand for recreational fishing facilities and to help mariculturists diversify their business, the AFCD implements a scheme to allow mariculturists to operate a recreational fishing business on licensed fish culture rafts. In 2011, 37 licensees in 11 fish culture zones were approved for such businesses.

The department continues to monitor red tides to protect the mariculture industry. It is now able to detect these tides as they start to form and take early action to deal with them. Red tide warnings are sent through support groups at the fish culture zones. Warnings are also posted on the AFCD's website and conveyed through press releases. In 2011, a total of 17 red tides were recorded in Hong Kong.

waters.