Press Releases

SFH meets environmental groups on trawl ban (with photos)

At a meeting with the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, today (March 1), representatives of the World Wide Fund for Nature, Hong Kong, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, Green Power, and the Marine Biological Association of Hong Kong indicated their support for banning trawling in Hong Kong.

The Chief Executive announced in his Policy Address last year that in order to protect our precious marine resources and ecology, trawling in Hong Kong waters should be banned through legislation to prevent non-selective trawling operations from further damaging the seabed and affecting adversely other marine resources.

Dr Chow said he was glad to learn that nature conservation groups generally 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.

"By restoring our marine environment and ecosystems, not only will we be conserving our environment, we will actually be taking the necessary step to pursue the sustainable development of our fishing industries.

"Species with commercial value will return to our waters, those of ecological value such as corals and sea turtles will also benefit from a less disturbed and better marine environment," Dr Chow said.

As this initiative will affect the livelihood of trawler fishermen, the Government proposes to pay an ex-gratia allowance to eligible trawler owners and to launch a voluntary scheme for the surrender of trawler vessels, as well as to provide one-off grants to local deckhands employed by the affected trawler owners who surrender their trawler vessels. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will introduce a special training programme to assist affected fishermen to switch to sustainable fishing operations.

At today's meeting, Dr Chow also exchanged views with the environmental groups on a range of other fisheries management measures.

Yesterday (February 28), Dr Chow visited Tai Po to get a first-hand understanding of trawling activities in Hong Kong. He talked to a number of fishermen's groups and listened to their concerns about the trawl ban.


Ends/Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:45

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(Photo 1), (Photo 2), (Photo 3)