8 FISHERIES
8.1.1.1 This section of the EIA presents details of the assessment of the potential impacts to fisheries resources within the study area and describes the sensitive receivers present, potential impacts from the project and recommends suitable mitigation measures (if necessary). In order to achieve the aforementioned measures, the major objectives of the assessment are as follows:
· description of the physical environmental background;
· description and quantification as far as possible of the existing fisheries activities and resources;
· identification of parameters and area that are important to fisheries;
· identification and quantification as far as possible of any direct or indirect and on-site or off-site impacts to fisheries; and
· proposals for any practicable alternatives or mitigation measures to prevent or minimise adverse impacts on fisheries and recommendations for any monitoring and audit.
8.1.1.2 The fisheries impact assessment comprises a desktop review of the latest relevant literature to describe the baseline condition, identification and evaluation of the potential direct, indirect, residual and cumulative impacts on fisheries resources from the Project. Mitigation measures and monitoring programmes have been recommended, as necessary.
8.2 Environmental Legislation, Standards and Guidelines
8.2.1.1 The fisheries impact assessment will be conducted according to the criteria and guidelines set out in the EIAO-TM Annex 9 and Annex 17 in order to provide complete and objective identification, prediction and evaluation of potential fisheries impacts arising from the Project. The criteria include the following:
· to prevent any significant impacts to sensitive fisheries areas particularly the nursery and spawning grounds of commercially important species of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other marine life;
· to prevent significant loss or interference with the use of fishing grounds and FCZs; and
·
to prevent significant impacts to local fishery resources and fishing activities.
8.2.1.2
Other local relevant legislation
applicable to this Study includes:
· the Marine Fish Culture Ordinance (Cap. 353) which regulates and protects marine fish culture zones(FCZ) that are designated under the ordinance. It is a criminal offence to discharge polluting substances into an FCZ;
· the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171) which regulates fishing activities for the conservation of fisheries resources and other marine life;
·
the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 358) which specifies a set
of Water Quality Objectives (WQOs) for each water control zone. Specific WQOs are also stipulated
for fish culture subzone and of particular relevance to this Study are:
- annual
geometric mean of bacteria Escherichia coli not to exceed 610 cfu/100ml; and
- The
depth-averaged dissolved oxygen should not be less than 5 mg/l for 90% of the
samples. In addition, bottom dissolved oxygen should not be less than 2 mg/l
for 90% of the samples.
8.2.1.3
Baseline fisheries conditions have
been elucidated via a review of relevant literatures, including any relevant EIAs and reports has also been conducted in
order to assist the assessment criteria. No field survey has been
determined to be necessary in this Assignment.
These reports include the following:
· Port Survey 2006, Fisheries Management Division, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) (AFCD, 2007);
· Agreement No. CE 42/2001, Environmental and Engineering Feasibility Assessment Studies in Relation to the Way Forward of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme – Water Quality, Ecological and Fisheries Impact Assessment (HATS EEFS Report);
· Agreement No. CE 87/2001, Further Development of Tseung Kwan O – Feasibility Study (TKOFS EIA);
· Agreement No. CE 35/2006 (CE). Kai Tak Development Engineering Study cum Design and Construction of Advance Works – Investigation, Design and Construction. Kai Tak Development Environmental Impact Assessment Report (KTD EIA) (EIAO Register No. AEIAR-130/2009); and
· Agreement No. CE 35/2006 (CE). Kai Tak Development Engineering Study cum Design and Construction of Advance Works – Investigation, Design and Construction. Dredging Works for Proposed Cruise Terminal at Kai Tak EIA Report (CTD EIA) (EIAO Register No. AEIAR-115/2007).
8.2.1.4
Potential impacts on capture
and culture fisheries resources arising from the Project are identified and evaluated using the EIAO-TM evaluation criteria listed in Annex 9
and guidelines presented in Annex 17.
8.3.1.1 According to the EIA Study Brief for the project (ESB-203/2009), the assessment area for fisheries impact assessment shall be the same as that of water quality impact assessment which consists of the Victoria Harbour Water Control Zone (WCZ), Western Buffer WCZ and Eastern Buffer WCZ (Figure 6.1).
8.3.1.2 However, as detailed in Section 3, the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) method has been determined as feasibility for the construction of the tunnel and as such, the tunnel will not be formed by Immersed Tube (IMT). As such, based on the TBM method, no marine works would be required and there would be no disturbance to the seabed as a result of the construction of the proposed project.
8.3.1.3
Excavation of the tunnels by TBM and associated land based works for the
road and ventilation building structures will generate spoil. One barging point located on the southern
edge of the South Apron of the ex-Kai Tak Airport (Figure 3.6) has been proposed to be used
for marine transportation of plant and disposal of excavated materials
generated from the Project to suitable disposal sites. The planned barging
point which is a cargo handling area was used by WSD for transportation of
liquid chlorine and has just closed down.
As detailed in Section 3.6,
the proposed existing barging point, due to its previous use as a marine berth,
will not require any dredging or marine works for its operation. In addition,
based on its location on the southern edge of the South Apron, it is over 8km
away from any important fisheries resources including fish culture zones.
8.3.1.4
Notwithstanding, potential
indirect off-site impacts as a result of construction dust deposition, site runoff and chemical waste spillage including oil and
other pollutants from mechanical equipment, could occur.
However, such impacts would be localised to
the waters around the project site including the Kai Tak Approach Channel (KTAC), Kwun Tong
Typhoon Shelter (KTTS) and eastern Victoria Harbour,
all within the Victoria Harbour and, therefore, these localised areas form the
focus of this fisheries assessment, as shown in the 300m water quality
assessment area in Figure 6.2.
8.3.2.1
Baseline information
on fisheries resources in the assessment area was acquired through desktop
review of available literature. This review included relevant fisheries
baseline data presented in the latest AFCD Port Survey 2006
(AFCD, 2007) and other relevant information available in the other reports and
publications. Information gaps were not identified and therefore no field
surveys were considered necessary.
8.3.2.2
The
fisheries impact assessment was conducted according to
the criteria and guidelines set out in the EIAO-TM Annex 9 and Annex 17 of the
EIAO-TM.
8.4.1
Description
of Physical Habitat
8.4.1.1 A detailed description of the physical marine habitat will be presented in the Water Quality Assessment and the key aspects are summarised below. The Trunk Road T2 project is located within the Victoria Harbour WCZ which is at the central transition zone between the estuarine western waters that are heavily influenced by spates of highly turbid freshwater from the Pearl River and salinity is often reduced (often <10‰) in the wet season, and the oceanic eastern waters that are typically highly saline hydrological conditions. In summer, water column stratification is often noted with surface waters of reduced salinity, higher temperature and rich in dissolved oxygen flow over the more saline and cooler oceanic waters which are low in dissolved oxygen. In water, with a reduced flow from the Pearl River, the waters of this region are vertically more uniform (Morton and Morton, 1983).
8.4.1.2 In terms of water quality, the Victoria Harbour WCZ achieved a 50% compliance within the WQOs in 2011 which is lower than the 76.7% achieved in 2010. The reduction in compliance was mainly due to non-compliance with the DO objective at eight stations in the WCZ and the non-compliance with the TIN objective at seven stations in 2011 (EPD, 2012). At the Western Buffer WCZ, the water quality achieved 75% compliance with the WQOs in 2011, lower than 2008-2010 (92%) and this was largely due to the low DO level recorded in the summer months of 2011. Regarding bacterial level, the E. coli levels at the three stations in the WCZ closest to the outfall of the SCISTW greatly decreased by over 90%, as compared with the pre-commissioning period of the Advance Disinfection Facilities before March 2010. At the oceanic Eastern Buffer WCZ, the water quality has 100% complied with the WQOs since 2000.
8.4.1.3 While the Western Buffer WCZ and Eastern Buffer WCZ contain areas of fishing importance including the fish culture zones (FCZ) at Tung Lung Chau within the Eastern Buffer WCZ and Ma Wan within the Western Buffer WCZ and fishing grounds covering much of the open waters of Hong Kong (Figure 6.1), as noted in Section 8.3 above, given the lack of construction works in the marine environment, potential impacts have been focused on the localised area in the Victoria Harbour WCZ. There are no FCZs within the Victoria Harbour WCZ and there are, also, no recognised spawning or nursery grounds within this area or, indeed, the Western Buffer WCZ and Eastern Buffer WCZ.
8.4.1.4 In summary, based on the review of the available literature, no important nursery or spawning areas are identified in the vicinity of the project site including KTAC, KTTS, Kowloon Bay, To Kwa Wan Typhoon Shelter (TKWTS) and eastern Victoria Harbour. Within the wider assessment area, there are the Tung Lung Chau Fish Culture Zone and Ma Wan Fish Culture Zone which are, however, at least over 8 km away from the project site. Further details of these resources are discussed below.
8.4.2.1 In Hong Kong, the capture fishing industry produced an estimated 170,720 tonnes of fisheries produce valued at HK$2,358 million in 2011 (AFCD, 2012). In 2011, the industry consisted of about 4,000 fishing vessels, with 8,500 fishermen working on-board in capture fisheries. The majority of the fishing vessels are manned by family members with the assistance of hired crew. Main fishing methods include trawling, long-lining, gill-netting and purse-seining, with the majority of the total catch obtained through trawling. Recent data on the local capture fisheries industry are summarised in Table 8.1.
Table
8.1 Recent
Hong Kong Capture Fisheries Industry Figures
|
Parameter |
2011 |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
|
Fishing Fleet Size |
4,000 |
3,900 |
3,700 |
3,800 |
4,000 |
3,950 |
4,150 |
4,300 |
|
Local Fishermen Engaged in Capture
Fisheries |
8,500 |
8,200 |
7,600 |
7,900 |
8,500 |
8,500 |
9,170 |
9,700 |
|
Production (thousand tonnes) |
170.72 |
168 |
159 |
158 |
154 |
155 |
162 |
167.5 |
|
Value of Produce (HK$ million) |
2,358 |
2,100 |
2,000 |
1,780 |
1,530 |
1,600 |
1,600 |
1,600 |
Source: AFCD Annual Reports 2004 – 2009 and AFCD (2012)
8.4.2.2
The latest AFCD Port Survey
2006 (AFCD, 2007) provides the most updated and detailed information on capture
fisheries in Hong Kong waters, including the distribution of both fisheries production
(adult fish and fry) (Figure 8.1) and fishing
operations (Figure 8.2). The fishing operations in the vicinity of the
project boundary, that is, KTAC, KTTS and the eastern Victoria Harbour, has been supported by vessels
of less than 15m only. Sampans have been
noted to the dominant fishing vessels but other vessels such as gill netters,
long liners, hand liners, purse seiners and
miscellaneous crafts, also, operated within the broader assessment area.
8.4.2.3 However, the latest Port Survey of 2006 did not record any fishing operations or fisheries production in the KTAC and inner KTTS, showing that the immediate area around the Trunk Road T2 project and its barging point has no, or very limited, value in terms of capture fisheries.
8.4.2.4 The scale of fishing activities in terms of the number of fishing vessels operating in Kowloon Bay, eastern Victoria Harbour and KTTS is considered to be moderate (100-400 vessels), compared with other fishing grounds in Hong Kong. Similarly, in terms of weight, fisheries production for adult fish in the study area was moderate (yield class of 200-400 kg/ha). However, there is no fry production within the Trunk Road T2 localised fisheries assessment area. Indeed, fry collection only occurs in a few areas in the eastern and southern waters, far from the project area.
8.4.2.5 The most common capture fish in the study area was rabbitfish (Siganidae). Comparatively high production of over 60 kg/ha of this species was recorded in the Trunk Road T2 fisheries assessment area during 2005. This species is a fast-growing fish of relatively low commercial value.
8.4.2.6 Other medium-valued species such as seabream (Sparidae) and crab produced moderate yields of about 20-40 kg/ha annually in the study area. Other species such as scad (Carangidae), croaker (Sciaenidae) and squid were scarcely reported (less than 5 kg/ha) in the Trunk Road T2 fisheries assessment area, except sardine and mullet which was produced 5-10 kg/ha respectively in KTTS and part of eastern Victoria Harbour. Overall, the Trunk Road T2 fisheries assessment area showed a moderate production of HK$5,000-10,000/ha in terms of capture fishery production value.
8.4.2.7 It should be noted, however, that because of the marine traffic in the KTTS and close proximity of the Kwun Tong waterfront, with its associated regular ferry routes from the Kwun Tong public pier, any fishing operations around the project area would be highly constrained.
8.4.3.1 In terms of fisheries resources, the Port Survey 2006 revealed that the top five categories of fish species captured in Hong Kong waters were: (1) mixed fish; (2) family Carangidae (Scad, Yellowstripe scad, Purple amberjack); (3) mixed shrimp (Shrimp, Rice prawn, Middle shrimp, Shiba shrimp, Spear shrimp, Japanese king prawn, Banana prawn, Bear prawn, Rough shrimp, Silver shrimp and coastal mud shrimp); (4) family Siganidae (Rabbitfish); and (5) mixed squid. As described in the capture fisheries section above, the main species caught around the Trunk Road T2 assessment area was Siganidae, with the highest production of 60 kg/ha (AFCD, 2007).
8.4.4.1
Culture fisheries in Hong Kong
include 26 fish culture zones (FCZs) located in various sheltered coastal areas
and marine waters and occupy about 209ha of marine area with about 1,008
licensed operators (AFCD, 2012). The
majority of the licensed farms are small, family-based and consist of one to
two rafts with an average total area of around 280m2.
8.4.4.2
Mariculture areas, including marine fish culture and oyster culture, are absent
in the Trunk Road T2 localised fisheries assessment area. While the Tung Lung Chau FCZ and Ma Wan FCZ
exist in the wider assessment area, they are at least 8 km away from the
project site. Although no figures are
available for the individual production of these FCZs, it was estimated that
culture fisheries production in 2011 was about 1,185 tonnes, valued at HK$94 million,
which catered for about 8 per cent of local demand for
live marine fish (AFCD, 2012). Some recent figures on marine culture fisheries
are presented in Table
8.2.
Table 8.2 Recent Hong Kong Culture Fisheries Industry Figures
|
Parameter |
2011 |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
|
Licensed Operators |
1,008 |
1,035 |
1,050 |
1,060 |
1,072 |
1,080 |
1,100 |
1,125 |
|
Production (tonnes) |
1,185 |
1,512 |
1,437 |
1,370 |
1,532 |
1,488 |
1,539 |
1,540 |
|
Value (HK$ million) |
94 |
118 |
92 |
82 |
99 |
89 |
76 |
79 |
Source: AFCD Annual Reports, 2004 – 2009 and AFCD
(2012)
8.4.4.3 The species cultured has changed gradually over recent years, depending on the availability of imported fry. Common species under culture include green grouper, brown-spotted grouper, giant grouper, Russell's snapper, mangrove snapper, gold-lined seabream, star snapper and red drum (AFCD, 2012).
8.4.5.1
The
currently available data summarised above provides a
comprehensive and up to date account of the status of the fisheries resources
in the Trunk Road T2 fisheries assessment area.
The data are considered adequate on which to base the assessment of
potential impacts resulting from the Trunk Road T2 project and, therefore, no
data gap in the fisheries baseline data has been identified and, as such, no
fisheries field surveys are considered to be required.
8.5.1
Construction
Phase Impact
8.5.1.1
There are
no recognised spawning or nursery grounds within the localised fisheries
assessment area in the Victoria WCZ, KTAC and KTTS with the closest fish
culture zones (FCZ) found at Tung Lung Chau within the Eastern Buffer WCZ and
Ma Wan within the Western Buffer WCZ, a significant distance from the Trunk
Road T2 project. However, fishing
grounds cover much of the open waters of Hong Kong and impacts to fisheries resources within the
assessment area in the vicinity of the works area may occur during construction of
the Trunk Road T2 project. The impacts can be generally divided into direct
disturbance to the fisheries habitat and fishing operations and indirect
impacts due to altered water quality parameters, that is, increase in suspended
solid due to site run-off. The potential impacts identified will be evaluated
in accordance with Annex 9 of the EIAO-TM.
Direct
Impact: Loss of Fishing Grounds
8.5.1.2
The
construction works of Trunk Road T2, such as site clearance, site preparation,
earthworks, tunneling by using TBM, excavation of production shaft and other
general construction activities, are land-based. No dredging, reclamation or filling in the
marine environment will be involved.
However, the proposed barging point at the southern end of the South
Apron of the former Kai Tak Airport would limit the
access of fishing vessels to this area during the construction phase. Approximately 0.5 ha of marine area in the
KTTS would be temporarily taken up by the barges while berthed at the marine
frontage due to operation of the barging point for a period of approximately 33
months. This marine area would represent a
small area compared to the available 165,000ha of open waters in Hong Kong
which is mostly available for fishing. In addition, the Port Survey 2006 did not
record any adult fish or fry production in the existing KTTS (AFCD, 2006).
Based on this, the small size of the temporary barging point and the fact that
the occupied marine area would be reopened for fishing after construction, it
is predicted that no significant impacts in respect to the loss of fishing
grounds would occur.
Direct
Impact: Disturbance to Fishing
Operations
8.5.1.3
The
construction vessels transporting materials and spoil to and from the barging
point could interfere with the activities of the fishing vessels within the
assessment area. Although the Port
Survey 2006 has indicated that no fishing vessels are used in the area of the
barging point, small vessels, such as sampans, are used by fishermen in the
KTTS and the eastern Victoria Harbour. Given that
these vessels are highly mobile and the construction vessels will be largely
concentrated in the barging point area, in addition to the fact that there will
be only be a maximum of 34 barge movements per day expected, based on a
conservative peak export of materials, a 500m3 barge capacity and 1
movement for arrival plus 1 movement for departure. Therefore, it is not expected that the
construction marine traffic will significantly interfere with the fishing
activities of the small vessel operators in this area. Thus, impacts from the
barging point operations to small boat operators are likely to be localised around the south apron and are not likely to
range wider.
8.5.1.4
The
distribution range of the fish involved will, also, generally be wider than the
works area and opportunities will still exist to catch the fish outside the
study area. In addition, the
assessment area is not a major operating area for large trawler trawling
vessels (>15m), with a ban on trawling activities effective from December
2012, the impact on the construction works on fishing vessels would be limited.
Indirect
Impact: Deterioration of Water Quality
8.5.1.5
As
discussed in the Water Quality Impact Assessment Section 6, the construction
works will involve site clearance, site preparation, earthworks, tunnelling by using tunnel boring machine (TBM), excavation
of launching/receiving shaft and other general construction activities
etc. However, as the TBM method will be
used to construct the tunnel, no dredging, reclamation or filling in the marine
environment will be involved and as such, no impact is expected to adversely
influence the water quality and hence no unacceptable impacts on fisheries
resources due to the marine works will be expected.
8.5.1.6
Notwithstanding,
potential indirect impacts to the fisheries resources could results from
changes in water quality mainly due to land-based construction works discharging into the adjacent waters, namely
construction dust deposition, site runoff and chemical waste spillage (e.g. oil
and other pollutants from mechanical equipment). However, it is anticipated the impacts would
be temporary and negligible with good site practices in place during the
construction phase. Impacts to fisheries activities in these areas are
considered to be very limited and insignificant.
8.5.1.7
Impacts
from the land based works are not expected to occur at far-field sensitive
receivers such as Ma Wan FCZ and Tung Lung Chau FCZ.
8.5.1.8
The barging point
at the South Apron of the ex-Kai Tak Airport has been proposed to be used for marine transportation of plant and disposal of
excavated materials generated from the Trunk
Road T2 project to suitable disposal sites. There will be no marine works like
dredging and no seawall modification works required for the establishment of
the barging point at the South Apron. As
such, no direct adverse water quality impacts are anticipated during its
construction or establishment.
8.5.1.9
However,
potential indirect impacts on water quality from site run-off and temporary
open stockpiles of spoil at the proposed barging point as well as spillage of
materials during transportation is
expected. Mitigation measures recommended in the
Water Quality Impact Assessment chapter (refer to Section 6.4), including
control of the
size of all construction
vessels, barges to be fitted with tight fitting seals to their bottom
openings to prevent leakage of material and barges or hoppers not to be filled
to a level that will cause the overflow of materials or polluted water during
loading or transportation, construction activities should not cause any foam,
oil, grease, scum, litter or other objectionable matter to be present on the
water within the site, will minimise water quality
impacts, and also minimise any adverse environmental
impact to fisheries. Based upon the
implementation of the water quality mitigation measures, impacts resulting from
the barging point operation and material
transportation from/to barging point would be
acceptable and no fisheries-specific mitigation measures are required.
8.5.1.10
From the
information presented above, no unacceptable impacts on the fisheries resources
within the assessment area will be expected during the construction phase. An
evaluation of the impact in accordance with Annex 9 of the EIAO-TM is presented
below in Table 8.3 for
the construction phase.
Table 8.3 Evaluation of Potential Fisheries Impacts
during Construction Phase
|
Parameter |
Loss
of Fishing Grounds |
Disturbance
to Fishing Operations |
Deterioration
of Marine
Water Quality |
|
Nature of
Impact |
Temporary loss of fishing ground; reversible and
short term during the construction period. |
Temporary and short term |
No severe indirect impacts will occur to fisheries
resources within the Study Area as no unacceptable water quality impacts are
expected with use of TBM for tunnel construction and the implementation of
good site practices. |
|
Size of
Affected Area |
Only 0.5ha of fisheries habitats will be temporarily
lost for 33 months due to barging point operation. |
Fishing vessels operation will be obstructed by the
construction barges. |
Negligible impacts to fisheries will be expected due
to no marine works within the assessment area and the long distance between
Trunk Road T2 and any important fisheries resources (the nearest fish culture
zone is located at least >8km away). |
|
Loss of
fisheries resources/ production |
No adult fish or fry production in the affected area
recorded and therefore, the temporary loss of fishing ground of approximately
0.5ha is predicted to have no significant impact on fisheries. |
Constitutes a small proportion of total fisheries
production in Hong Kong, as the major fishing operation, trawlers, are rarely
operated in the study area. |
The potential impacts would be temporary and
negligible with good site practices in place. |
|
Destruction
and disturbance of nursery and spawning grounds |
No recognised spawning or
nurseries grounds identified in the affected area. Thus, no destruction or
disturbance of areas of fisheries importance is expected due to the project
works. |
No recognised spawning or nurseries grounds within
the assessment area. Thus, no destruction or disturbance of areas of
fisheries importance is expected due to the project works. |
No recognised spawning or nurseries grounds
within the assessment area. Thus, no destruction or disturbance of areas of fisheries
importance is expected due to the project works. |
|
Impact on
fishing activity |
Based on small size of the barging point
and the land-based construction works restricted to the coastal area, the
impacts on fishing activities are expected to be negligible. |
Small number of vessels of length lesser than 15m
will be affected. |
Impacts to fishing activities in the area due to
indirect disturbance of water quality are expected to be localized and in short
term. Impact to the high mobility fish are mirror. |
|
Impact on
aquaculture activity |
No direct impact
on culture fisheries is anticipated as no fisheries
culture zones are within the affected area. |
There is no Fish Culture Zone within the Victoria Harbour WCZ. Within the wider assessment area, there are
the Tung Lung Chau Fish Culture Zone within the Eastern Buffer WCZ and Ma Wan
Fish Culture Zone within the Western Buffer WCZ which are, however, at least
over 8 km away from the project site. No impact on culture fisheries activity
is identified since they are far away from the project. |
No impact on culture fisheries activity is
identified since Tung Lung Chau Fish Culture Zone and Ma Wan Fish Culture
Zone are far away from the project. |
8.5.2
Operational
Phase Impact
Direct Impact: Loss of Fishing
Grounds
8.5.2.1
There will be no direct impacts to the fisheries resources during the operational phase as operation of the barging point would be ceased after construction works
of the Trunk Road T2 and no permanent structures would be constructed above
seabed level in the marine environment.
Thus, no fishing activities will be restricted in the marine area and no
loss of fishing ground is expected during operational phase. No direct impact
on fisheries resources is expected to result from the operation of the project.
Direct Impact: Disturbance to
Fishing Operations
8.5.2.2
As there are no permanent road structures in the marine environment for
the Trunk Road T2, the
Marine Traffic Impact Assessment has concluded that there would not be any
notable changes to marine traffic vessel numbers or patterns in the area as a
result of the implementation of the project.
As such, impacts to fishing operations are not expected to be affected.
Indirect Impact: Change of Hydrology and Tidal Flow
8.5.2.3
No reclamation is proposed in this Trunk Road T2 project and there would
be no permanent road structures above seabed level in the marine
environment for the Trunk Road T2. As such, the implementation of the project
would not induce any changes to the hydrology and tidal flow of the marine
waters. Therefore,
the implications to fisheries resources and fisheries will not be significant.
Indirect
Impact: Deterioration of Marine Water Quality
8.5.2.4
There is a
risk to fisheries due to potential chemical or oil spillages arising from
vehicle accidents during the operation of the project. Although Dangerous
Goods (DG) vehicles of Categories 1, 2 and 5 are prohibited from using the tunnel, other
tankers/vehicles carrying oil and chemicals will be allowed to use the tunnel.
The majority of Hong Kong road tanker transport will be of fuels, such as
petrol, diesel and possibly LPG and LNG, together with some liquid chemicals.
In the event of an accident with such a tanker/vehicle, there is the
possibility for the spillage of oil or chemicals. As detailed in Section 6.5, while the road drainage system is proposed to
include oil and silt interceptors which will help to collect some of a spill
depending upon the amount, in the event that a major spill occurs, a defined
response plan is required in order to, not only be able to reopen the road as
soon as possible to minimise disruption to traffic, but also to minimise
effects on the marine ecological resources and water quality. All methods of spill clearance should be
environmentally acceptable and should not lead to pollution of the marine
environment. Details of the spill
response plan are provided in Section
6.5 and would be considered sufficient to protect fisheries resources and
operations.
8.5.2.5
Potential water quality impact during operational phase could, also, be
due to tunnel and road surface run-off from the at-grade road sections.
Run-off from the tunnel and road surfaces and leaks from vehicles may be
contaminated. However, the Trunk Road T2
tunnel will be installed with oil interceptors and the at-grade surface roads
with silt traps to screen the run-off before discharge. In addition, as also detailed in Section 6.5, the road run-off would be notably diluted
once it entered the marine waters and should not result in a significant
increase in concentrations of contaminants.
The total contaminant load in the road run-off will represent a small
increase in the natural contaminant load and should not result in a significant
detrimental impact on marine water quality especially when the small rainfall
volumes with respect to the tidal volume are taken into account. Based upon these factors, significant effects
on the water quality and, therefore, fisheries resources, are not predicted during the operation phase with the implementation of the
mitigation measures detailed in Section
6.
8.5.2.6
From the information
presented above, no unacceptable impacts on the fisheries resources within the assessment
area will be expected during the operational phase. An evaluation of the impact
in accordance with Annex 9 of the EIAO-TM is presented below in Table 8.4 for the
operational phase.
Table 8.4 Evaluation of Potential Fisheries Impacts
during Operational Phase
|
Loss
of Fishing Grounds, Disturbance to Fishing Operations, Change of Hydrology
and Tidal Flow and Deterioration of Marine Water Quality |
|
|
Nature of Impact |
No severe direct and indirect impacts will occur to fisheries
resources within the assessment area. |
|
Size of Affected Area |
Negligible impacts to fisheries will be expected as no sea area is
occupied and the water quality
mitigation measures are implemented during the operational phase. |
|
Loss of fisheries
resources/ production |
Loss of fisheries resources / production will be negligible. |
|
Destruction and
disturbance of nursery and spawning grounds |
There are no recognised
spawning or nurseries grounds in the assessment area. Thus, no destruction or
disturbance of areas of fisheries importance is expected due to the project
works. |
|
Impact on fishing
activity |
No operational impact is predicted. |
|
Impact on aquaculture
activity |
No impact on culture fisheries activity is expected. |
8.5.3
Summary of
Fisheries Impacts
8.5.3.1
A summary
of the potential fisheries impacts identified during the construction and
operational phase are provided in Table 8.5 below.
Table 8.5
Summary of Fisheries Impacts
|
General Impact |
Potential Impact Identified |
Severity of Impact |
Mitigation Required |
|
Construction Phase |
|||
|
Loss of Fishing Grounds |
Temporary loss of 0.5ha associated with
barging point for period of 33months. |
Insignificant |
No |
|
Disturbance to Fishing Operations |
Temporary disturbance to fishing
operations from construction vessels. |
Insignificant |
No |
|
Deterioration of Marine Water Quality |
Temporary impacts due to potential site
runoff from land-based construction works into the adjacent waters. |
Insignificant |
No but
construction run-off control measures will be implemented. |
|
Operational Phase |
|||
|
Loss of Fishing Grounds |
No loss of fishing ground would be
expected as operation of the barging point would be ceased after construction
works |
None |
No |
|
Disturbance to Fishing Operations |
No change to marine traffic vessel
numbers or patterns would be expected as no permanent
road structures in the marine environment. As such, fishing operations would
not be affected. |
None |
No |
|
Change of Hydrology and Tidal Flows |
No change of hydrology and tidal flow
would be expected as no permanent road structures in the marine environment |
None |
No |
|
Deterioration of Marine Water Quality |
Impacts relating to tunnel and road
surface runoff and chemical and oil spillage from vehicle accidents |
Insignificant |
No
but adequate drainage systems, oil interceptors in the tunnel and a spill
response plan to be provided. |
8.6.1.1
There are no marine-based
construction works for this Project that would results in disturbance to the
seabed or permanent above seabed structures.
However, the Trunk Road T2 has proposed a barging point at the end of
the Kai Tak South Apron and will undertake land-based
works which have the potential for construction run-off to affect nearby marine
waters. A number of other projects within the wider
assessment area comprising Western Buffer, Victoria Harbour and Eastern Buffer
WCZs are expected to conduct marine works in parallel to the Trunk Road T2
during the construction phase of this project.
The Trunk Road T2 construction should commence in late 2015 and works
would be completed at end of 2020, for commissioning in 2021. The potential
concurrent projects that would be constructed concurrently with the Trunk Road
T2 works are listed in Table
8.6 below and provided in Appendix 3C.
Table 8.6
Summary of Cumulative Impacts
|
Project |
Project
Proponent |
Construction
Programme |
Major
Marine-based Works |
|
Projects
Involving Marine-based Works |
|||
|
Central
Kowloon Route (CKR) |
Highways
Department (HyD) |
2015-2020 |
Temporary reclamation and dredging |
|
Kai
Tak Runway Opening |
Civil
Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) |
2018 |
Dredging |
|
Cross
Bay Link (CBL) |
Civil
Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) |
May 2017
to August
2018 |
Dredging and filling |
|
Tseung Kwan O – Lam
Tin Tunnel (TKO-LTT) |
Civil
Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) |
January 2016 to December 2020 |
Reclamation works for the TKO section,
piling works, construction and decommission of two temporary barging points. |
|
Projects
Involving Land-based Works |
|||
|
EPIW - Junction Improvement Works |
Civil
Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) |
2019 - 2020 |
Land-based |
|
EPIW - Extension of Existing Footbridge
FB-02 |
Civil
Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) |
2019 - 2020 |
Land-based |
|
EPIW - Proposed Foot Bridge FB-06 |
Civil
Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) |
2019 - 2020 |
Land-based |
|
Road L10 and L18 |
Civil
Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) |
2019 - 2020 |
Land-based |
|
Centres of Excellence in Paediatrics and
Neuroscience and a New Acute Hospital |
Hospital
Authority (HA) |
2013-2017 |
Land-based |
|
District Cooling System at the Kai Tak Development |
EMSD |
Mid-2013 - 2016 |
Land-based |
8.6.1.2 The TKO-LTT reclamation will result in a 3.6ha permanent loss of fishing area in the wider assessment area. However, as the Trunk Road T2 project would not result in any permanent loss of fishing grounds, no cumulative impacts will be triggered by its implementation.
8.6.1.3 In addition to the above permanent losses, approximately 22ha of marine area, including 18.9ha in inner Junk Bay due to the Chiu Keng Wan barging point and 0.1ha in the eastern Victoria Harbour due to the Cha Kwo Ling barging point, both for TKO-LTT, and 3ha from the construction phase reclamation in the Kowloon Bay typhoon shelter for CKR, would be temporarily occupied during the construction of these projects. These temporary losses would be potentially concurrent with the 0.5ha temporary loss associated with the operation of the barging point for the Trunk Road T2.
8.6.1.4 However, the cumulative temporary fishing ground losses are much larger than those predicted for the Truck Road T2 alone, and with the Truck Road T2 making only a limited contribution to the total amount. Also, only small vessels, such as sampans, are used by fishermen in the KTTS which would be only temporarily affected by the Trunk Road T2 construction. In addition, trawling operations have been banned since December 2012. It should be noted also, that these temporary losses represent a short-term unavailability of fishing grounds to fishing operations rather than loss of fisheries resources. As fishermen are generally free to fish in the whole of Hong Kong waters without restriction, except at special areas like marine parks, reserves or major navigation channels, the temporary unavailability of fishing grounds in the KTTS would not represent significant impact in terms of fisheries catches. Therefore, as the temporary loss of fisheries area due to this project is relatively small and the contribution of the project alone to the cumulative impacts is expected to be minor, significant cumulative impacts are not predicted.
8.6.1.5 Notwithstanding, potential indirect impacts to fisheries resources could results from changes in water quality in the adjacent waters. Construction of the 600m Opening at the Kai Tak Runway, within the KTAC area, will comprise dredging works in parallel to the Trunk Road T2 construction works. However, as construction of the Trunk Road T2 involves only land-based works and the construction run-off will be controlled by a series of mitigation measures and good practice, it is anticipated that any impacts from the Trunk Road T2 project would be temporary and negligible with good site practices in place. As such, the Trunk Road T2 will not trigger any significant cumulative impacts by its implementation.
8.6.1.6
In addition, there are several land based
works within the 500m assessment area, as detailed in Table 8.6, for which construction would be on-going at the same time as the Trunk Road T2 and could, also, result in construction run-off and
discharges. However, each of the
projects would involve the provision and implementation of individual
mitigation measures and based on the implementation of the water quality mitigation measures, no adverse
cumulative fisheries impacts associated with the land based works would be
anticipated.
8.7.1.1 Following the EIAO-TM Annex 17, mitigation measures will need to avoid, minimize, and compensate for identified fisheries impacts.
8.7.1.2 Impacts to fisheries resources and fishing operations have largely been avoided during the construction and operation of the Trunk Road T2 through the avoidance of dredging, reclamation, filling activities and permanent above seabed structures in the marine environment. The mitigation measures to be recommended in the water quality impact assessment (Section 6) to control water quality would serve also to protect fisheries resources from indirect impacts and ensure no adverse impact on fisheries resources would result from the Trunk Road T2 project.
8.7.1.3 Hence, no fisheries specific mitigation measures are required during construction and operation of the Trunk Road T2.
8.8.1.1
The residual impacts refer to
the net impacts after mitigation, taking into account the background
environmental conditions and the impacts from existing, committed and planned
projects. Residual impacts associated
with the construction and operation phases have been assessed but no
quantification of residual impacts is required.
8.8.1.2
No significant residual impacts due to the
construction or operation of the Trunk Road T2 are expected after the
implementation of the proposed mitigation measures to control water quality impacts
detailed in Section 6.
8.8.1.3
Given that the water quality
mitigation measures will be implemented as necessary
and no fisheries specific mitigation measures are required.
8.9 Environmental Monitoring and Audit
8.9.1.1 The implementation of the water quality mitigation measures stated in the Section 6 (Water Quality Impact Assessment) will be audited as part of the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) procedures during the construction period and the details are presented in the separate Environmental Monitoring and Audit Manual.
8.9.1.2
There are no significant fisheries impacts
predicted from the construction and operation of the Trunk Road T2 and
therefore, no EM&A specifically for fisheries is required.
8.10
Summary and Conclusions
8.10.1.1 Review of existing information on commercial fisheries resources and fishing operations within the study area has been undertaken. Information from the AFCD Port Surveys 2006 indicated that the importance of capture fisheries resources in the Study Area as moderate in terms of both production weight and value. However, fish fry production is absent from the assessment area and no fish culture zones, spawning areas or nursery grounds are present and, therefore, these resources would not be affected by the proposed project implementation.
8.10.1.2 Although the Trunk Road T2 barging point would cause about 0.5ha temporary loss of marine area in KTTS, the Port Survey 2006 did not record any adult fish or fry production in the existing KTTS (AFCD, 2006). Based on this, the small size of the temporary barging point and the fact that the marine area would occupied only temporarily and could be available for fishing after construction, it is predicted that no significant impacts in respect to the loss of fishing grounds would occur as such, the construction and operation of the project would not give rise to any significant impacts to fisheries. No mitigation measures are required for fisheries resources given that the water quality mitigation measures will be implemented as necessary.
Agriculture,
Fisheries and Conservation Department. (2007). Fisheries: Capture
Fisheries. Port Survey 2006. http://www.afcd.gov.hk/
Agriculture,
Fisheries and Conservation Department. (2012). Fisheries: Aquaculture. http://www.afcd.gov.hk/
Fish Market Organisation. (2010). Wholesale Price of Fresh Marine Fish
/ Live Marine Product on 30/4/2010.
http://www.fmo.org.hk/index/lang_en/page_price-sea/
CityU (City University of Hong Kong) (2001). Agreement No. CE 62/98, Consultancy Study on Fisheries and Marine Ecological Criteria for Impact Assessment, Final Report, for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSAR Government.
EPD (Environmental Protection Department) (2012). Marine Water Quality in Hong Kong in 2011. Hong Kong SAR Government.
ERM (Environmental Resources Management) (1988). Fisheries resources and fishing operations in Hong Kong waters. Final Report. Prepared for Agriculture and Fisheries Department, HKSAR Government.
Morton, B. and Morton, J. (1983).The Sea Shore Ecology of Hong Kong. Hong Kong University Press.