Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan and Legislative Council members today visited the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department's (AFCD) modern mariculture demonstration farm at Tung Lung Chau.

Together with 11 members and non-members of the Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety & Environmental Hygiene, Mr Tse received a briefing by AFCD representatives on the operation of a semi-submersible steel truss cage farm in the demonstration farm to learn about the latest developments of the Government's work to promote modern and sustainable fisheries.

The Government expects local mariculture production can be doubled as compared to 2022 within 2027.

Promoting the development of deep sea mariculture is one of the key initiatives of the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture & Fisheries.

Four new fish culture zones located at Wong Chuk Kok Hoi, Mirs Bay, Outer Tap Mun and Po Toi (Southeast) will come into operation in phases, covering a total of about 590 hectares of sea area, more than doubling the area of the fish culture zones.

The marine fish culture licences for Wong Chuk Kok Hoi and Mirs Bay fish culture zones have been open for applications since October. It is expected that the first batch of new marine fish culture licences will be issued in the first quarter of 2025 at the earliest.

Mr Tse said the AFCD will set up five sets of modern deep-sea cages in phases for rental to fisheries associations or organisations starting from next year, so as to reduce the fishermen's start-up costs and assist the industry to develop modern deep sea mariculture with intensification of production.

The Government will also provide financial and technical support to eligible people in need through the Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund.