ENG-2020 — Page 211

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Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

Development Fund was set up to enhance the industry's overall competitiveness. In July, the government obtained funding approval from the Legislative Council's Finance Committee for the first phase of an Agricultural Park at Kwu Tung South, with works expected to be completed in phases from the end of 2021. A consultancy study is also being conducted on the feasibility of designating agricultural priority areas.

Fisheries Industry

Fresh fish is one of Hong Kong's most important primary products. In 2020, the amount of fish caught and fish reared in ponds and floating cages at sea totalled about 119,400 tonnes, with a value of $2.8 billion.

As at 31 December, some 6,390 vessels were licensed as Class III vessels, meaning fishing vessels, under the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Certification and Licensing) Regulation. These included larger vessels operating mainly in the South China Sea and smaller vessels in local waters. There were about 10,150 local fishermen in the industry, with a quota of 4,380 Mainland deckhands. The total catch weighed about 116,100 tonnes, with an estimated wholesale value of $2.7 billion, and provided some 37,000 tonnes of fish for local consumption.

As at 31 December, 925 AFCD-licensed mariculturists were operating in 26 designated fish. culture zones. They supplied consumers with some 690 tonnes of live marine fish valued at $52 million during the year.

Freshwater and brackish water fish are reared in fish ponds located mainly in the northwestern New Territories. In 2020, pond fish culture yielded some 2,520 tonnes of fish, valued at $60 million.

The AFCD combats illegal fishing practices, including trawling, to ensure sustainable development of the industry and to conserve fisheries resources in Hong Kong waters. In 2020, a dedicated enforcement team was set up, and there were convictions in 14 cases of illegal fishing.

At the same time, the department helps the industry cope with challenges, including providing credit facilities to fishermen, owners of fish-collecting vessels and fish farmers for sustainable development and general productive purposes. It offers free training courses to fishermen. 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 industry's competitiveness.

The voluntary Accredited Fish Farm Scheme tags fish from 136 participating farms for easy recognition. More than 85,000 kilograms of accredited fish were sold under the scheme in 2020.

To help the industry adopt modern and sustainable aquaculture, the AFCD has established a demonstration mariculture farm as a training centre at Tung Lung Chau fish culture zone. The centre provides practical training using the latest aquaculture equipment, allowing fish farmers to learn new aquaculture techniques.

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