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The Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Food), Mrs Marion Lai, and the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Gabriel Leung, accompanied by the Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (Fisheries), Dr So Ping-man, joined a marine-based guided tour today (March 12) to see a pilot scheme for fisheries eco-tourism.
Mrs Lai and Professor Leung first boarded a boat in Sai Kung where they were briefed by a fisherman turned eco-tour guide on Hong Kong's marine resources, the history of local fisheries and the culture of fishing communities. They also spoke to industry representatives to learn more about the guided tour operation. They then visited Tai Tau Chau to observe fishermen demonstrating various capture fishing methods.
In collaboration with local fishermen and the private sector, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) launched the pilot scheme in Sai Kung and the north-eastern New Territories to help fishermen venture into eco-tourism. The scheme provides marine-based guided tours that cover the culture and practices of fishing communities as well as the ecological and geological features of Hong Kong. Over 70 fishermen have been trained in the pilot scheme so far.
The AFCD will continue to explore opportunities to collaborate with fishermen in other districts to extend the pilot scheme and help more fishermen develop their businesses.
To help fishermen gain practical experience in other sustainable operations, the AFCD has been providing free training courses on eco-tourism, aquaculture and other fisheries-related operations during the fishing moratorium in the South China Sea since last year.
To protect our precious marine resources and ecology, the Government proposed legislation to prevent non-selective trawling operations from further damaging the seabed and affecting adversely other marine resources. It is expected that, upon the implementation of the trawl ban, not all fishermen will leave the trade for good. The AFCD will introduce a special training programme to assist affected fishermen to switch to sustainable fishing operations such as mariculture or recreational fishing. The special training programme includes free courses and pilot schemes on eco-tourism, aquaculture and other fisheries-related businesses.
Meanwhile, Professor Leung also met fishermen's representatives, individual fishermen, academics, nature conservation groups and other stakeholders on March 9 and 10 to listen to their views and suggestions regarding the proposed trawl ban in Hong Kong waters.
During the meetings, Professor Leung said he was glad to learn that academics and nature conservation groups fully support the trawl ban initiative.
"Hong Kong waters are important fish spawning and nursery grounds. The Government's proposal to ban trawling in Hong Kong waters will arrest harmful depletion of marine resources and enable rehabilitation of the marine ecosystems to a sustainable level over time," he said.
In response to the concern of some fishermen's representatives that the livelihood of trawler fishermen would be affected by this initiative, Professor Leung reiterated that in addition to AFCD's special training programme to assist affected fishermen to switch to sustainable fishing operations, the Government proposes to pay an ex-gratia allowance to eligible trawler owners and to launch a voluntary scheme for them to surrender their trawler vessels. The Government also proposes to provide one-off grants to local deckhands employed by the affected trawler owners who surrender their trawler vessels, with a view to assisting them to tide over this transition period. Moreover, the Government is reviewing the mechanism, loan terms and eligibility of the Fisheries Development Loan Fund to enable the Fund to better cope with fishermen's needs in developing or switching to sustainable fisheries and related operations.
Ends/Saturday, March 12, 2011
Issued at HKT 13:10
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