Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ4:Fisheries resources and fishing operations in HK

Following is a question by the Hon Wong Yung-kan and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (December 11):


Question:

In the Report on the Consultancy Study on Fisheries Resources and Fishing Operations in Hong Kong Waters published by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in April 1998, it was recommended that a fishing license programme should be established so that the Government would be able to directly control the number of fishing vessels. However, the programme has not yet been implemented. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

(a) the reasons for the delay in implementing the programme; and

(b) the timetable for implementing the programme?


Reply:

Madam President,

The Government has long been concerned about the problem of depletion of fisheries resources in local waters. To address the issue, we commissioned a consultancy study on fisheries resources and fishing operations in Hong Kong waters to assess the situation and put up recommendations on suitable improvement measures. The study, completed in 1998, confirmed that fisheries resources in Hong Kong waters had been over-exploited, and recommended six priority fisheries management measures to protect and sustain local fish stocks. Three of those measures have already been implemented in phases and showing encouraging results. These include

(i) habitat enhancement through the deployment of artificial reefs;

(ii) habitat restoration by means of mitigating the impact of marine works projects; and

(iii) restocking with a fish fry releasing trial scheme

The consultancy study's recommendation of a fishing license programme, on the other hand, is more controversial due to its possible implications on the livelihood of local fishermen. A number of fishermen's organisations had raised concerns over the administrative burden, license succession problems and cost consequence the programme might have on them. In response, we have taken time to conduct extensive consultation to clarify their doubts, and subsequently fine-tuned some features of the proposed programme to address their concerns.

The introduction of the fishing license programme requires extensive legislative amendment, and the detailed operation of the programme must be well planned to ensure its effectiveness and smooth implementation. The exercise involves a whole range of complex legal and enforcement issues. We have to give these issues careful considerations in consultation with relevant government departments. Some examples of these issues are -

(i) the license programme's coverage and extent of control, in terms of fishing methods, gears and vessels;

(ii) the circumstances that warrant enforcement action to be taken and the various possible enforcement difficulties;

(iii) the question of liability in case of the offender being a person other than the owner of the vessel or the master or person-in-charge of the vessel;

(iv) the level of penalty for relevant offences; and

(v) the proposal's compliance with various international agreements.

We are now working on the details of the proposed programme. We intend to consult the LegCo Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene on a proposed framework of the programme in the latter half of this legislative year.

End/Wednesday, December 11, 2002
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