Local fishing vessel registration under the Fisheries Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 opens for applications
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (November 13) announced that the Fisheries Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 (the Ordinance) has taken effect. The concerned local fishing vessel registration, Provisional Approval of Registration (PAR) and Certificate of Eligibility for Registration (CER) are open for application.
The Ordinance empowers the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (DAFC) to exercise discretion, in order to consider registration applications of local fishing vessels that did not possess a valid operating licence on June 15, 2012, but were used for fishing up to June 14, 2012.
An AFCD spokesman said, "Some vessel owners who thought that their fishing vessels did not fulfil the above registration requirement might have already sold or disposed of their fishing vessels. The DAFC is provided with discretion in considering issuing a PAR which certifies a right to register a fishing vessel within two years from the issue of the PAR, to eligible vessel owners."
Furthermore, the spokesman noted that those trawler owners whose CER applications were rejected because of failing the above requirement, can also re-apply for a CER if their trawler was used for fishing up to June 14, 2012.
The AFCD is accepting applications for local fishing vessel registration, PAR and CER. The deadline for application is May 5, 2021. Application forms are available on AFCD website (www.afcd.gov.hk) and at AFCD headquarters or Fisheries Offices.