Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan today visited a modern mariculture demonstration farm at Tung Lung Chau with a national research team led by Agriculture & Rural Affairs Vice Minister Ma Youxiang and Guangdong Department of Agriculture & Rural Affairs Director-General Liu Zonghui.

Set up by the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD), the demonstration farm adopts deep sea cages with modernised and sustainable practices. It also provides infrastructure for on-site training, leading to the local fisheries industry’s upgrade and transformation.

Mr Tse said: “Promoting the sustainable development of fisheries has now become the dominant trend and is consistent with the direction of the development of the nation. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to promote and assist fishermen to switch to modernised and sustainable mariculture practices, enhance manpower training and conserve our ocean resources.”

During the trip, the research team gained a better understanding on Hong Kong’s work in promoting modernised and sustainable mariculture, and exchanged views with their Hong Kong counterparts on the development of marine fisheries in the two places, the bureau added.

Separately, the bureau and the AFCD are working with the industry to formulate a blueprint for the sustainable development of agriculture and fisheries. An array of measures covering finance, infrastructure, land and technical support will be rolled out to raise the quality and value of local produce as well as the industry’s productivity.

In addition, to further promote the development of deep sea cage mariculture, the AFCD has designated new fish culture zones at four priority sites and will provide several deep sea cages equipped with modern mariculture equipment in phases for rent to fish farmers. Such measures are expected to double local mariculture production in five years.