The Government will provide subsidies to owners of fishing vessels or fish collector vessels with Mainland deckhands under the Anti-epidemic Fund, helping the fisheries industry to tackle financial difficulties arising from the COVID-19 outbreak.

The subsidies will be $200,000 for each vessel of 25 meters or above in length and $80,000 for each vessel of less than 25 meters in length.

Application forms are available on the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department's website.

The application starting date is March 5.

Completed application forms together with copies of the required documents should be submitted by mail to the Fisheries Enforcement & Special Projects Division of the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department at 8/F of Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon before April 17.

They can also be submitted to drop-in boxes at the Aberdeen, Castle Peak, and Shau Kei Wan Wholesale Fish Markets under the Fish Marketing Organization.

Vessel owners who are not in Hong Kong can authorise an agent to handle their applications.