Complementary Fisheries Management Measures

Complementary Fisheries Management Measures

In order to bring local fisheries industry back to a sustainable path, the Fisheries Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2012 (Amendment Ordinance) came into effect on 15 June 2012. The Administration will implement a series of complementary fisheries management measures to regulate fishing activities. These measures include, among others, a registration system for local fishing vessels and policy on research fishing permits.

Registration System for Local Fishing Vessels

Owners of local fishing vessels must submit applications to the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (the Director) for registration of their vessels, if they are to be used for fishing in Hong Kong waters. The registration will remain valid throughout the life span of the vessel and no renewal of registration will be required. The Director will issue a Certificate of Registration of Local Fishing Vessel to the owner of a registered vessel. The Director may also approve an application for change of ownership of a registered vessel, or replacement of a registered vessel by a new one, provided that the engine power of the vessel does not exceed that of the replaced vessel.

Any person who engages in fishing in Hong Kong waters with the use or aid of the registered vessel (or any of its ancillary vessels) shall carry out fishing activities in accordance with the particulars and conditions specified in the certificate in terms of engine power, maximum number of ancillary vessels, fishing methods, fishing gears, fishing area and fishing period. The Director will also keep a complete register of all registered vessels, which is available for public inspection.

Research Fishing Permit

The Amendment Ordinance provides that the Director may on application grant a research fishing permit, upon such conditions as he thinks fit, for fishing with the use or aid of a local fishing vessel for necessary scientific, environmental monitoring or related purposes.

Penalty

Under the Amendment Ordinance, any person who without reasonable excuse engages in fishing in the waters of Hong Kong under the following circumstances commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for 6 months:

1. Fishing with the use or aid of a registered vessel but breaching the conditions of registration or using methods other than those specified in a research fishing permit or in Schedule 2 of the Amendment Ordinance;

2. Fishing with the use or aid of an unregistered local fishing vessel using methods other than those specified in a research fishing permit or in Schedule 2;

3. Fishing with the use or aid of a non-fishing vessel using methods other than those specified in Schedule 2; or

4. Fishing with the use or aid of a non-local fishing vessel.

Application forms

Research fishing permit

Information of registered local fishing vessels

List of registered local fishing vessels (Chinese version only)

Publicity materials

Registration of local fishing vessels - Poster (Chinese version only)

How to register a local fishing vessel - Booklet (Chinese version only)

Fishing with the Use or Aid of Local Non-Fishing Vessels - Leaflet

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