ENG-2015 — Page 203

Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

Under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171), all local fishing vessels operating in Hong Kong waters are required to register with the department. The aim is to control the number of fishing vessels and maintain an appropriate level of fishing effort in local waters.

The department combats destructive fishing practices, including trawling, to ensure sustainable development of the fishing industry and to conserve fisheries resources in Hong Kong waters. Thirty-five cases of illegal fishing were successfully prosecuted in 2015.

The department helps the industry in various ways to cope with the challenges it faces, including providing credit facilities to fishermen, owners of fish-collecting vessels and fish farmers for sustainable development and general productive purposes. It also offers free training courses to fishermen during the annual fishing moratorium and at Chinese New Year. A $500 million Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund, set up in 2014, helps fishermen adopt sustainable and high-value-added methods of operation, and subsidises programmes and research to enhance the overall competitiveness of the industry. As at the end of 2015, the department received 23 applications and approved six of those applications, comprising four aquaculture and two fisheries-related eco-tourism projects. The total commitment involved was about $28 million.

The department conducts studies and provides technical support to fish farmers to help the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry. Under its Good Aquaculture Practices Programme and Fish Health Inspection Programme, the department continues to assist fish. farmers in preventing, diagnosing and containing fish disease. The department visits fish farms. regularly under these programmes to collect water and fish samples for analysis. Seminars are held for farmers to learn new techniques and good management practices. In addition, 118 farms have joined the department's voluntary Accredited Fish Farm Scheme. More than 15,000kg of accredited fish of various species were sold under the scheme in 2015. The accredited fish carry tags for easy recognition.

Specially designed artificial reefs known as biofilters are used to improve water quality and seabed conditions at fish culture zones at Yim Tin Tsai (East), 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, 45 mariculturists in 10 fish culture zones have the AFCD's approval to operate recreational fishing businesses on licensed fish culture rafts.

To protect the mariculture industry, the department monitors red tides and issues red tide alerts through support groups at the fish culture zones. Alerts are posted on its website and conveyed through press releases. In 2015, nine red tides were recorded in Hong Kong waters.

Wholesale Markets

Fresh food produce is sold in wholesale markets managed by the AFCD, the VMO, the Fish Marketing Organisation (FMO) and the private sector. In 2015, government wholesale markets, namely, the Western Wholesale Food Market, Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market, Cheung

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