The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, and 11 Members and non-members of the Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene today (November 5) visited the modern mariculture demonstration farm of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) at Tung Lung Chau. They received a briefing by representatives of the AFCD on the operation of semi-submersible steel truss cage farm in the demonstration farm to learn about the latest development of the Government's work to promote modern and sustainable fisheries. The Government expects the local mariculture production can be doubled as compared to 2022 within 2027.
Promoting the development of deep sea mariculture is one of the key initiatives of the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries. Four new fish culture zones located at Wong Chuk Kok Hoi, Mirs Bay, Outer Tap Mun and Po Toi (Southeast) respectively will come into operation in phases, covering a total of about 590 hectares of sea area, more than doubling the area of the fish culture zones. The marine fish culture licences for Wong Chuk Kok Hoi and Mirs Bay fish culture zones have been open for applications since October. It is expected that the first batch of new marine fish culture licences will be issued in the first quarter of 2025 at the earliest.
Mr Tse said the AFCD will set up five sets of modern deep sea cages in phases for rental to fisheries associations/organisations starting from next year, so as to reduce the fishermen's start-up costs and assist the industry to develop modern deep sea mariculture with intensification of production. The Government will also provide financial and technical support to eligible persons in need through the Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund.
The AFCD set up the modern mariculture demonstration farm at Tung Lung Chau in 2021 to facilitate the industry to switch to deep sea mariculture. The demonstration farm has adopted semi-submersible steel truss cage farm design, which can withstand strong winds, waves and ocean currents. It is also equipped with modern mariculture technologies, such as a real-time water quality monitoring system, an automated feeding system, and a solar and wind power generation system.
The Acting Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food), Ms Ivy Law, and the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai, also attended the visit.
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