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Fish restocking exercise on National Fish Releasing Day 2026 held (with photos)
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     To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking.

     Speaking at the launch ceremony, the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, said that The Government has been actively conducting restocking exercises to enhance marine resources as outlined in the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries. The theme of the restocking activity this year, "Restocking for an Everlasting Ocean", stresses the value of restocking, which is to allow marine resources to thrive and to sustain, and to leave a living and harmonious marine environment for our future generations. The AFCD will organise a number of workshops about restocking for the public and the education sector, to embed the concept of science-based restocking deeply in the community and schools.

     Following the launch ceremony, representatives from the AFCD, the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, Ocean Park Hong Kong and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong released some 62 000 juvenile fish of native species, including black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii), yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus), red seabream (Pagrus major), and two newly added species this year: short barbeled velvetchin (Hapalogenys nigripinnis) and giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus), in Yan Chau Tong Marine Park and South Lantau Marine Park. The diverse habitats in these two marine parks, such as artificial reefs, coral communities, natural rocky reefs and boulders, provide suitable habitats for the juvenile fish. Existing fisheries management measures also offer effective protection for their growth. The AFCD and its collaborating organisations will conduct regular underwater surveys to record the status of released fish and monitor the status of local fisheries resources as a whole.

     The restocking exercise, supported by the Urban Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, the Marine Development Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, the Hong Kong Fishermen Consortium, the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, Ocean Park Hong Kong and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, brought together about 150 students, representatives from religious groups, fishermen's associations and green groups, and volunteers from Shenzhen, etc. The AFCD also released a restocking leaflet today to introduce information about the science-based restocking to the public and provide guidelines for organisations interested in conducting restocking. Later this year, the AFCD will jointly organise more workshops with the Urban Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality and the Marine Development Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality to further enhance understanding about science-based restocking among the public and the education sector. 

     The AFCD reminds the public to think carefully before participating in animal release activities to avoid affecting the ecological environment or causing unnecessary suffering to animals. Members of the public are encouraged to participate in science-based restocking or other charitable activities as alternatives to improper animal releases.
 
Ends/Saturday, June 6, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:45
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To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows (from left) the Chairman of Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund Advisory Committee, Professor Wong Ka-hing; the Chairman of Hong Kong Fishermen Consortium, Mr Cheung Siu-keung; Legislative Council Members, Mr Chan Pok-chi, Mr Yiu Pak-leung; the President of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, Ven Kuan Yun; Legislative Council member Ms Judy Chan; the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai; the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong; Deputy Director General of the New Territories Sub-office of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Ms Zhu Yihua; Legislative Council Member Mr Chan Hak-kan; the Chairman of the Board of Ocean Park Corporation, Mr Paulo Pong; Legislative Council Member Mr Steven Ho; Deputy Department Director of Shenzhen Marine Development Promotion Center, Mr Zhang Yuhai; and the Chairman of Marine Parks Committee, Professor Qiu Jianwen, officiating at the launch ceremony.
To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, speaking at the launch ceremony.
To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) juveniles for release.
To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) juveniles for release.
To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows red seabream (Pagrus major) juveniles for release.
To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows short barbeled velvetchin (Hapalogenys nigripinnis) juveniles for release.
To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) juveniles for release.