The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (January 23) announced that applications for marine fish culture licences for operation in the Mirs Bay fish culture zone are now open from today until April 30.

     An AFCD spokesman said, "The Mirs Bay fish culture zone is located in open waters with favourable currents, making it suitable for the adoption of modern aquaculture facilities and technologies, such as steel truss cages or high-density polyethylene gravity-type cages with strong wind and wave resistance. The establishment of these new fish culture zones enables the industry to operate aquaculture in an intensification mode, thereby promoting and assisting them in transitioning to modernised and sustainable operations, and facilitating the sustainable development of the local fisheries industry."

     Applicants are required to submit a detailed business plan, including an introduction to the proposed sustainable mariculture business and the type of deep-sea cages to be used. The proposed business must comply with relevant cage requirements as well as the relevant environmental protection and mitigation measures. Interested parties intending to operate in the Mirs Bay fish culture zone may consider applying for marine fish culture licences through funding from the Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund or through self-financing to develop mariculture businesses. 

     The AFCD will hold a briefing session on February 13 to introduce the application procedures and licensing requirements for marine fish culture licences in the Mirs Bay fish culture zone. For details on the licence application and the briefing, please visit the AFCD's webpage (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/fish_aqu/fish_aqu_mfco/newfczmfcl2026.html).

     The AFCD has designated Wong Chuk Kok Hoi, Mirs Bay, Outer Tap Mun and Po Toi (Southeast) as four new fish culture zones, covering a total area of 600 hectares. Among them, the Wong Chuk Kok Hoi and the Mirs Bay fish culture zones have accepted marine fish culture licence applications in 2024 and 2025. The AFCD will review the actual operations of these two fish culture zones to further refine the planning for the new fish culture zones at Outer Tap Mun and Po Toi (Southeast), in preparation for their timely opening.

Ends/Friday, January 23, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:33

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