This section
presents the findings of an impact assessment on existing capture and culture
fisheries, including fisheries resources, fishing operations and fish culture
activities, from the construction and operation of the proposed Project. It summarizes baseline information on
fisheries production around Eastern buffer Water Control Zone (WCZ) and its
vicinity gathered from literature review.
The assessment of fisheries impacts is based on the Project Description
(Section 3) and the findings of the
Water Quality Assessment (Section 6).
10.2.1
Technical Memorandum
The criteria
for evaluating fisheries impacts are stated in the EIAO-TM. Annex 17 of the EIAO-TM prescribes the
general approach and methodology from assessing fisheries impacts caused by a
project or proposal, to allow a complete and objective identification,
prediction and evaluation of the potential impacts. EIAO-TM Annex 9 recommends the criteria that
are to be used for evaluation of fisheries impacts.
10.2.2
Other Legislation
Other
legislation which applies to fisheries includes:
• Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171),
which provides for conservation of fish and other aquatic life, regulates
fishing practices and prevents activities detrimental to the fishing industry.
• Marine Fish Culture Ordinance (Cap. 353),
which regulates and protects marine fish culture and other related activities
and requires all marine fish culture activity to operate under license in
designated Fish Culture Zones.
• Water Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 358),
which aims to control water pollution in Hong Kong waters. Water Control Zones (WCZs) are designated
with individual water quality objectives to promote the conservation and best
use of those waters in the public interest.
• Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance
(Cap. 499), Section 5(7) – Environmental Impact Assessment Study Brief no.
ESB-266/2013 Section 3.4.8 and Appendix H which outline the key fisheries
impacts to be reviewed and assessed in the EIA Report.
The Study Area
for fisheries is the same as that for the Water Quality Impact Assessment (see Section 6) and includes other areas
likely to be impacted by the Project, particularly area with significant
fisheries resources and fishing activities, spawning and nursery grounds, and
the Fish Culture Zones.
A desktop
review of existing information on commercial fisheries resources and fishing
operations in waters of the Study Area has been undertaken, and the most
up-to-date information was obtained primarily from the Agriculture, Fisheries
and Conservation Department (AFCD). For
a detailed description of the physical and biological characteristics of the
marine environment of the Study Area please refer to Sections 6 and 9
respectively.
10.3.1
Overview of Hong Kong Fisheries
Marine-based commercial fishing operations in Hong Kong are broadly
classified into culture and capture fisheries.
Mariculture fishery operations
occur at 26 Fish Culture Zones (FCZs) which altogether occupy about 209 ha of
Hong Kong waters. They involve rearing
of marine fish from fry or fingerlings to marketable size in cages suspended by
floating rafts usually in sheltered coastal areas/ embayments. Fish farms are typically small scale,
family-run operations comprising only one or two rafts with an average size of
about 290 m2.
With effect from June 2002, the marine fish culture licence is
transferable. The existing moratorium
for FCZs has been reviewed and three new measures are proposed to promote the
sustainable development of the local fisheries industry ([1]),
including:
1.
Issue new marine fish culture licences in three FCZs (i.e. O Pui Tong,
Wong Wan and Sham Wan FCZs) with approximately 30 new marine fish culture
license to be issued at the initial stage;
2.
Expand the existing FCZ at Yim Tin Tsai; and,
3.
Identify any potential area for designation of new FCZs.
In 2013, the marine
fish culture industry produced about 1,005 tonnes of fish valued at HK$94
million which accounts for about 6 % of local demand for live marine fish. Some recent figures on the local marine
culture fisheries are presented in Table 10.1.
Table 10.1 Marine Culture Fisheries Summary
Statistics 2002 - 2013 (source: AFCD)
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
|
Licensed Mariculturists
|
1,237
|
1,157
|
1,125
|
1,104
|
1,081
|
1,072
|
1,060
|
1,050
|
1,035
|
1,010
|
1,008
|
987
|
|
Production (tonnes)*
|
1,210
|
1,490
|
1,540
|
1,540
|
1,490
|
1,530
|
1,370
|
1,437
|
1,512
|
1,185
|
1,299
|
1,005
|
|
Value (HK$ million)*
|
57
|
76
|
79
|
76
|
89
|
99
|
82
|
92
|
118
|
94
|
117
|
94
|
* AFCD estimates
Capture
fisheries is primarily concentrated in the waters of Hong Kong, the Pearl River
Estuary and the adjacent continental shelf of the South and East China Seas ([2]).
The AFCD
reported that in 2013 an estimated 170,129 tonnes of fish was
produced, which was equivalent to an economic value of about HK$2,338 million ([3]).
In addition,
8,800 local fishermen with approximately 4,000 vessels were servicing in the
fishing industry ([4]).
The major fishing methods include trawling, long-lining, gill-netting
and purse-seining with the majority of the total catch obtained through
trawling.
Based on the latest data from AFCD Port Survey 2006, the highest
fisheries production (600 to 1,000 kg ha-1) in Hong Kong was
recorded in the vicinity of the Ninepin Island Group, Po Toi
and Tap Mun ([5]).
These areas also recorded the highest number of fishing vessels. Scad (Carangidae), shrimp, rabbitfish (Siganidae), squid, croaker (Sciaenidae),
crab, mullet (Mugilidae), sardine (Clupeidae), seabream (Sparidae) and anchovy (Engraulidae)
were the top 10 families captured in Hong Kong waters.
To promote the
sustainable development of fishing industry and to conserve fisheries resources
in Hong Kong waters, AFCD has implemented a number of fisheries management and
conservation measures. On 31 December
2012, an outright trawling ban was put into effect in an attempt to restore the
seabed and the depleted fisheries resources ([6]).
To complement
the trawl ban and bring local fisheries industry back to a sustainable path,
the government seeks to implement other fisheries management measures through legislative
amendments to the Fisheries Protection
Ordinance (Cap. 171). These measures
include: (1) setting up a registration system for local fishing vessels; (2)
limiting new entrants to control the fishing number of fishing vessel and
fishing effort; (3) restricting fishing activities of non-fishing vessels and
prohibiting fishing activities of non-local fishing vessels; (4) designating
fisheries protection areas; (5) habitat enhancement and restoration (i.e.
artificial reefs); and (6) fish restocking trials.
Since 1999,
Mainland Authorities have implemented a fishing moratorium for South China Sea
fishing grounds for about 2.5 months during mid-summer (between mid-May to
August). The moratorium prohibits
fishing activity by the Hong Kong fleet outside of Hong Kong waters except by
gill-netting, long-lining, hand-lining and cage trapping.
10.3.2
Culture Fisheries in the Study Area
There are no
Fish Culture Zones (FCZs) located within the proposed submarine intake and
outfall of the desalination plant (Figure
10.1). The closest AFCD designated
FCZs are located at Tung Lung Chau (1 km from the proposed submarine intake and
outfall) and Po Toi O (1.5 km from the proposed
submarine intake and outfall, distance in the sea).
10.3.3
Capture Fisheries in the Study Area
a)
Fishing Operations
The area and
number of vessels operating in the Study Area during 2005 are presented in Figure
10.2. It should be noted that
trawling was still allowed at time when the Port Survey was conducted in
2005. Moderate numbers of fishing
vessels (100 – 400 vessels), mostly sampans, gill netters, and to a lesser
extent long liner and shrimp trawlers, operated in waters around the proposed
submarine intake and outfall in 2005.
Elsewhere within the Study Area, moderate to high number of vessels (400
– 700 vessels) were recorded near Ninepin Island Group, Po Toi
Island Group, Tap Mun and Port Shelter Island. Vessels operating in the Project Area are
largely sampan (100 – 400 vessels), and to a lesser extent gill-netter (10 – 50
vessels), long-liner (1 – 50 vessels), stern trawler (1 – 10 vessels), shrimp
trawler (1 – 10 vessels) hand liner (1 – 10 vessels) and purse seiner (0 – 50
vessels) in year 2005.
b)
Fishing Production
The level of
fisheries production in the waters around Tseung Kwan
O Area 137 in 2005 is presented in Figure 10.3.
More recent
data from the AFCD Port Survey 2006 indicated that fisheries production in
waters around the submarine intake and outfall of the proposed desalination
plant ranged 100 – 400 kg ha-1 for adult fish accounting for HK$
2,000 – 10,000 ha-1 in value (Figure 10.4). Key fish families recorded by Port Survey
2006 include Siganidae (Rabbitfish),
Engraulidae (Anchovy), Sciaenidae
(Croaker) and Sparidae (Seabream).
In comparison
to other areas of the Hong Kong fishing ground, fisheries production in the
waters around Tseung Kwan O Area 137 is
moderate. Other areas of high fisheries
production include areas around Cheung Chau, Lamma
Island, the Ninepin Island Group, the Soko Islands,
the Po Toi Island Group and Tap Mun.
c)
Fish Fry Production
As presented in Figure
10.5, there is no record of fish fry catches within the direct
footprint of the submarine intake and outfall pipelines. Other areas of fish fry production outside of
the direct footprint of submarine intake and pipeline area include the Po Toi Island Group, Port Shelter and Tap Mun.
10.3.4
Spawning Areas
The Port
Shelter and Southeastern waters were identified in 1998 as fisheries spawning
grounds for high value commercial species (Figure 10.1) ().
The key species
recorded spawning in the Port Shelter waters include Apogon quadrifasciatus (Twostripe
cardinal), Parapristipoma trilineatum (Chicken grunt), Sebastiscus marmoratus (Common
rockfish), Trichiurus
lepturus (Hairtail), Upeneus sulphureus (Sulphur goatfish)
and Upeneus tragula
(Freckled goatfish). Cynoglossus macrolepidotus (Largescale
tonguesole) and Larimichthys crocea (Yellow croaker) were recorded spawning in the
Southeastern waters. The recognized
spawning grounds at the Port Shelter and Southeastern waters are located > 2
km east and > 6 km south of the Tseung Kwan O Area
137, respectively.
10.3.5
Nursery Area
Nursery areas in
Hong Kong waters that are important habitat area for a number of commercial
juvenile fish and crustacean species have been previously identified to extent
across southern waters from Lantau Island to Lamma
Island and within Port Shelter waters (),
whilst no nursery
ground was identified within the direct foot print of the submarine intake and
outfall of the proposed desalination plant (Figure 10.1). The identified nursery grounds are located
distant from the waters off the Tseung Kwan O Area
137.
10.3.6
Artificial Reef Deployment
The AFCD has been
undertaking a programme to enhance existing marine habitats and fisheries
resources through the siting, construction and deployment of artificial reefs
(ARs). Generally ARs provide hard
bottom, high profile habitat in areas without natural cover and may potentially
act as fish enhancement devices. Between
2001 and 2009, AFCD deployed a total volume of 103,260 m3 of ARs on
seabed of Outer Port Shelter area as to prevent trawling and enhance habitat
quality and marine resources. These ARs
are located at least 5 km from the submarine intake and outfall of the proposed
desalination plant.
10.3.7
Sensitive Receivers
Based on the
preceding review of the available information on the capture and culture
fisheries of the waters in the vicinity of the proposed Project, the potential
fisheries sensitive receivers that may be affected by the Project activities
are identified as follows:
·
Recognized spawning and nursery ground of
commercial fisheries resources at Port Shelter (located at least 2 km east from
the proposed Project);
·
Artificial reefs at Outer Port Shelter area (located
at least 5 km east from the proposed Project)
·
Fish Culture Zone at Tung Lung Chau (south to
the proposed Project at a distance of about 1 km)
The locations of the
sensitive receivers are shown in Figure 10.1.
10.3.8
Fisheries Importance
Based on the baseline
information provided above, the importance of the fisheries within the Study
Area is evaluated. The fishing areas
within and in the vicinity of the Project’s footprint are considered to be of
moderate commercial value. Whilst these
waters are of moderate commercial value, considering the small size of these
areas, the Project Area is considered as of low importance to the Hong Kong
fishing industry.
According to Annex 9 of the EIAO-TM, spawning and nursery grounds can be regarded as an
important habitat type as they are critical to the regeneration and long-term
survival of many organisms and their populations. No spawning and nursery area has been
identified within the footprint of the proposed submarine intake and outfall of
the Project and in the vicinity. The
closest recognized spawning area is located at least 2 km east of the Project
site.
The waters within
the project’s footprint and its vicinity also do not support mariculture activities.
The closest FCZ is about 1 km away.
Also there is a large separation between the project and the AR site in
Outer Port Shelter. Overall,
considering the separation distances between the project and various fisheries
sensitive receivers, it is considered that the Project Area is of low
importance to fisheries.
A desktop literature review of baseline
fisheries conditions was conducted for the purpose of establishing the
fisheries importance of the waters in the vicinity of the proposed facilities
at Tseung Kwan O Area 137. Information from the water quality impact
assessment (Section 6) was examined
to refine the size of the Study Area as that is potentially affected by
perturbations to water quality parameters.
This area, refined to within 7 km from the Project facilities, became the
main focus for this fisheries impact assessment. The importance of potentially impacted
fisheries resources and fishing operations within this area was studied. The potential impacts due to the construction
and operation of the Project were then assessed (with reference to the EIAO-TM Annex 17 guidelines) and the
impacts evaluated (with reference to the criteria in EIAO-TM Annex 9).
10.5.1
Construction
Phase
·
Direct
disturbances of fisheries habitat and fishing ground; and,
·
Perturbations
to key water quality parameters.
a)
Habitat
Disturbance
Direct impacts to
fisheries resources, habitats and fishing operations include disturbance caused
by marine construction works, i.e. dredging and intake/ outfall installation. The seabed area to be disturbed by dredging
activities for the installation of submarine intake and outfall is very small
(0.11 ha), and the area is of low fisheries importance, hence unacceptable
impacts on the fishery resources and activities are not expected. In addition, marine construction works are
expected to cause temporary disturbance (about 18 months for the marine
construction period) to a marginally larger marine construction works area. Owing to the very small area of the fishing
ground temporarily lost to the marine construction works and due to its low
fisheries importance, unacceptable impacts to local fisheries resources,
habitats and fishing operations are not expected. Fisheries resources are expected to return to
the area following the cessation of marine construction activities. Issuance of Marine Department Notice or other
notification is expected to reduce the risk of collision of increased marine
traffic and fishing vessels to within acceptable levels.
b)
Perturbations
to key water quality parameters
Indirect impacts to
fisheries resources, habitats and fishing operations during the construction
phase are primarily associated with the suspension of sediments due to the
marine works. Potential impacts to water
quality from sediment release due to marine dredging at submarine outfall and seawater intake, vessel
discharges and land-based site runoff from
construction workforce as described in the water quality impact assessment in
Section 6.
During
construction period, discharges and runoff from the site, particularly during
civil works, excavation and backfilling works, will contain SS which could be a
source of water pollution. Uncontrolled
disposal of debris and rubbish such as packaging, construction materials and refuse
and spillages of chemicals stored on-site, such as oil, diesel and solvents
would also result in contamination of construction site runoff. However, it is anticipated that no
unacceptable water quality impacts would arise from the land-based works if
standard site practices and mitigation measures, described in Section 6.9.1, are in place and properly
implemented.
Sediment or
SS could be lethal or sublethal to fish and other
fisheries resources through reduction in survivorship, growth rate and reproductive
potential due to stress incurred by the need to constantly flush out deposited
material. High SS level may clog gill structure of fish and cause physical
damage and hinder transfer of oxygen.
Fish egg and larval fish (fry) are more susceptible to deleterious impacts from sedimentation through burial and
clogging of their respiratory systems.
Adult fish are more likely to move away when they detect certain SS
level and therefore less sensitive to effects from SS.
Increase in
SS in water column combining with a number of other physical or biotic factors
would reduce DO in water column.
Elevated SS reduces light penetration, lowers the photosynthetic rate of
phytoplankton and eventually would lower the rate of oxygen production in water
column. Also, the release of inorganic
substances from the sediments may cause eutrophication and algal bloom. Oxidation of dead
algae may use up some of the oxygen in the water. If oxygen levels are depleted
to low levels, fish, especially those in early life stages may be unable to
tolerate such conditions and suffer hypoxia-induced mortality and / or stress
including reduced feeding and growth rate.
According to the water quality impact
assessment, surface runoff from land-based construction activities near the coastal
waters would not cause any significant change in sediment, SS, organic and
inorganic water pollutants. It is unlikely to
cause unacceptable impact on the aquatic environment from an ecotoxicological point of view. Moreover,
important fisheries resources, such as fish spawning and nursery grounds, fish
culture zones, and artificial reefs are at large distances (> 1km) away from
the proposed works area. With the
implementation of mitigation measures proposed in water quality impact
assessment in Section 6, such as the
use of silt curtain around grab dredger, and effective site drainage would
minimize any impacts to the marine environment resulting from land-based
construction activities. No adverse
impact associated with water quality change is expected on fisheries resources
during the construction phase.
10.5.2
Operation
Phase
·
Permanent
loss of fisheries habitat;
·
Impingement
and entrainment of fisheries resources
·
Change
in water quality
a)
Permanent
loss of fisheries habitats
As mentioned in Section 10.5.1 (a), the Project would result in a permanent loss of
about 0.11 ha of seabed habitats due to the installation of submarine intake
and outfall. There will be no loss of
habitat in the water column. From the
evaluation of the productivity and value of the local fisheries in Section 10.3, the affected area is
considered as of low fisheries importance.
Overall, the very small size and low fisheries importance of the
affected area suggest that unacceptable impacts to fisheries caused by permanent
habitat loss are not expected to occur.
b)
Impingement
and entrainment of fisheries resources
From a fisheries
perspective, the high volume and velocity of inflowing seawater may have
negative effects on fish, fish eggs and crustacean due to the physical damage
caused by collisions with the screen (impingement) and due to their uptake to
the process system (entrainment). The
swimming speeds of juvenile and larval fishes vary greatly but a generally
slower than the water velocity of the intake pipe. Owing to their larger size juvenile fish are
generally more susceptible to impingement, whilst fish and crustacean larvae
and eggs, zooplankton and phytoplankton are more exposed to entrainment, as
their small size enables them to pass through the screen ()
().
Whilst it is acknowledged that the intake of
seawater may minimally increase the natural mortality rate of fish larvae,
crustaceans and fish eggs due to impingement and entrainment, it has been noted
that the significance of such impacts is strongly dependent on the ecological
sensitivity and the productivity of the impacted area as well as the rate of
water intake. The rate of water intake
is slow, and the design of the intake structure to minimize the potential of
impingement and entrainment of eggs and larvae would be explored. Also no spawning and nursery area has been
identified in the direct footprint and proximity of the submarine intake (Section 10.3), thus unacceptable impacts
due to impingement and entrainment of fisheries resources is not anticipated. The recognized spawning and nursery grounds
over 2km away are considered unlikely to be affected by the operation of this
Project.
c)
Change in water quality
According to the results of water quality
impact assessment in Section 6, the discharge of RO concentrate (brine) is the
primary concern in the operation of the desalination plant. The hypersaline brine sinks to seabed due to
its greater density and potentially stratifies the receiving water body ()
(). Furthermore, antiscaling
agents and a variety of chemical agents are added for pre- and post-treatment
process to enhance flocculation or to avoid membrane deterioration. Antiscaling agents
like polyphosphates, polymers of maleic acid, sulphuric
acid and antifoaming agents like fatty acids, alkylated polyglycoles
are used as chemical components which are discharged in the RO concentrate via
the submarine outfall ().
The effect of brine on salinity change in
seawater and the secondary impact on marine environment has been documented in
the literature (). Changes in salinity and prolonged exposure to
the chemical components used in desalination process would impede the growth
and development of marine species.
Although marine species are tolerant to the fluctuation in salinity by
osmoregulation, the sudden augmentation of salinity from brine discharge could
present an unfavorable condition for marine species. Studies showed that the abrupt increase in
salinity and prolonged exposure to brine discharge may potentially impair
osmoregulation and hinder the growth as well as reduce the survival rate of
marine species ()
()
(). Also it has been reported that juvenile fish
tends to be more sensitive to the brine discharge than adult fish ()
().
During operation
phase, changes in the hydrodynamic regime and water quality due to the
discharge of RO concentrate from the Project are anticipated, whilst there
would be no temperature elevation from the discharge. A maximum of 464,000 m3/day of saline water would be
discharged from the proposed desalination plant to the coastal water. According to the water quality impact
assessment in Section 6, the salinity
would be approximately 2 times higher than the ambient condition. As per the modelling results in Section 6, the concentrated saline water
would be localized within close proximity to the submarine outfall area and
subsequently diluted by marine waters to the level as the feedwater.
Thus, the impact would be localized and confined to close proximity of the
submarine outfall. Fisheries importance
at the waters in the vicinity of the desalination plant is low and the impact
zone is at large distances away from the fisheries sensitive receivers (i.e.
fish culture zones, fish spawning and nursery ground and artificial reefs). Literature on operating desalination plant
indicates that potential adverse impact on fisheries due
to the discharge of brine would be minimal, as marine fishes
usually have a higher salt tolerance than their freshwater counterparts and
they are fairly mobile ([20]).
In addition,
most antiscalants are classified as “inherently
biodegradable” with relatively long half-live (e.g. one-month or longer), thus
no adverse impact on invertebrate and fish species is anticipated as the
exposure levels are considerably lower than the concentrations at which acute
and chronic toxic effects can be observed (see Section 6 for assessment criteria for antiscalants
and related results). Given that
non-metal and corrosion resistance materials, such as super-duplex stainless
steel, would be adopted in the proposed desalination plant, corrosion products,
namely copper and nickel, is not anticipated in the RO concentrate. Also chemicals in the RO concentrate are
predicted to disperse quickly and be diluted to very low levels, if at all
notable, upon discharge, hence the residual concentrations is unlikely to
impact on fisheries resources. Besides,
the discharged saline water would comply with the standards for effluents
discharged into the coastal waters of Eastern WCZ, and the levels of other chemical
constituents are predicted to comply with the relevant assessment criteria such
as the WQO at the fisheries sensitive receivers. Therefore, the impact due to discharge of RO
concentrate on fisheries resources is insignificant and considered acceptable.
From the information presented above, the
fisheries impact associated with the Project is not considered to be
significant. An evaluation of the
impacts accordingly to Annex 9 of the
EIAO-TM is presented below:
·
Nature
of Impact:
Permanent impacts are predicted to occur as a result of the loss of seabed
fisheries habitats in the 0.11 ha area to be used for installation of submarine
intake and outfall. Temporary
disturbance to fishing grounds in the Project’s marine works area is expected
as a result of the marine construction works.
Temporary and localized impacts to pelagic and demersal fisheries
resources as a result of perturbations to water quality are predicted to occur
only in the immediate vicinity of the works area. No significant adverse impacts to fisheries
resources are expected from the impingement and entrainment of fish and
crustacean larvae or eggs in the intake system for the reverse osmosis process.
·
Size
of Affected Area:
The construction and operation of the Project is predicted to result in the
permanent loss of approximately 0.11 ha of fishing ground on the seabed
only. This loss is considered to be
insignificant for local fishery resources and fishing operations given the very
small size of habitat lost and low fisheries importance in these waters.
·
Size
of Fisheries Resources/Production:
The value of the fisheries resources/ production of the marine waters around
the submarine utilities is low in comparison to other waters in Hong Kong. The area affected is very small.
·
Destruction
and Disturbance of Nursery and Spawning Grounds:
No important spawning or nursery grounds have been identified within the
Project Area. The recognized spawning
and nursery area at Port Shelter lies at least 2 km from the proposed Project,
and the recognized spawning ground at Southeastern
waters is located at least 6 km from the proposed Project. As the water quality modelling results have
indicated that impacts to water quality are predicted to be localised and
short-term, impacts to the identified nursery and spawning grounds are not
expected to occur.
·
Impact
on Fishing Activity:
Due to the small size of the affected area and the low fisheries importance,
impacts on fishing activity are expected to be minimal.
·
Impact
on Aquaculture Activity:
No impact has been identified on the Fish Culture Zones, as temporary SS
elevations and impact of RO concentrate discharge are compliant with the
assessment criteria, and the closest fish culture zones are located at Tung
Lung Chau and Po Toi O and they are located at least
1 km from the proposed Project, and thus are distant to be affected by the
works .
In accordance with the guidelines in the
EIAO-TM Annex 17 on fisheries impact assessment, the policy adopted in this EIA
for mitigating impacts to fisheries, are:
·
Avoidance: Potential impacts should be avoided to the
maximum extent practicable by adopting suitable alternatives.
·
Minimisation: Unavoidable impacts should be minimised by
taking appropriate and practicable measures such as confining works in specific
area or season, restoration (and possibly enhancement) of disturbed fisheries
resources and habitats.
·
Compensation: When all possible mitigation measures have
been exhausted and there are still significant residual impacts or when the
impacts are permanent and irreversible, consideration shall be given to
off-site compensation. It may include
enhancement of fisheries resources and habitats elsewhere.
Construction impacts to fisheries
resources, habitats and fishing operations have largely been avoided (i.e.
important spawning and nursery area of commercial fisheries resources, fish
culture zones, artificial reefs) and reduced through proper planning and design
of the works, in particular those associated with the dredging activities (e.g.
adoption of trenchless method to reduce dredging volume and extent, and
optimisation of project construction schedule).
The main works have been designed to confirm compliance with the
assessment criteria at sensitive receivers and control water quality impacts to
within acceptable levels and water quality mitigation measures will be
implemented to further avoid/ reduce potential impacts (see Section 6). These measures are expected to control and
reduce potential impacts to fisheries resources as well, and no
fisheries-specific mitigation measures or compensation are thus required during
construction.
No significant impacts to fisheries
resources and fishing operations is expected to occur during the operation
phase of the Project. Compliance with
the relevant discharge standards to control water quality impacts to within
acceptable levels is also expected to control impacts to fisheries resources. Furthermore, impingement and entrainment of
fisheries resources will be reduced through appropriate design of the intake
screens on the seawater intake. No
additional fisheries-specific mitigation measures or compensation are required
during operation.
Impacts to fisheries resources, habitats and
fishing operations during construction and operation phase are considered to be
within acceptable level. The permanent
loss of 0.11 ha of seabed fisheries habitat for the installation of submarine
utilities is considered to be of negligible significance and within acceptable
level.
Information from publicly available sources
suggested that the construction/ implementation programmes of the major
projects listed in Section 3.8 would
coincide with the construction of the Project. These projects either do not have a marine
element or are at large separation distances (> 3 km) from this
Project. It is noted from the approved
EIA reports of these projects that their impacts are not expected to be
significant for fisheries resources in this part of Hong Kong, consequent no
unacceptable cumulative impacts is anticipated.
In addition, a discussion of potential cumulative water quality impacts
arising from concurrent projects is provided in Section 6. Since it is
unlikely for water quality mixing zone of this Project to overlap with those of
other concurrent projects in this part of Hong Kong, it is thus concluded that
cumulative impacts on water quality impacts and consequently on fisheries are
not predicted to occur.
Given that the no operational
impacts on fisheries resources are anticipated from the concurrent projects,
operational cumulative impacts with other development in and around Tseung Kwan O Area 137 are not predicted to occur.
As no unacceptable impacts have been predicted
to occur during the construction and operation of this Project, monitoring of
fisheries resources during these project phases is not considered necessary.
Monitoring activities designed to detect and
mitigate any unacceptable impacts to water quality during construction phase
are also expected to serve to protect against unacceptable impacts to
fisheries. The details of the water
quality monitoring programme are presented in the EM&A Manual attached to
this EIA.
A literature review of baseline information on
commercial fisheries resources and fishing operations surrounding the waters of
the proposed Project has been undertaken.
Results from the review indicate that fisheries importance of the
Project Area and its vicinity is low when compared to other waters of Hong
Kong. Sensitive receivers including
spawning ground, nursery ground, artificial reefs and Fish Culture Zone area
have been identified; however, the assessment of water quality impacts
demonstrated that these areas will not be affected.
During construction of the Project, direct
impacts arising from the proposed marine works include loss of approximately
0.11 ha of seabed fisheries habitat due to seabed dredging. Given the small size of the fishing ground
and temporal nature of the marine works, no significant direct impacts on
fishing operations are expected to occur.
Indirect impacts to fisheries resources related to perturbations to key
water quality parameters are also expected to be insignificant as the predicted
changes in water quality are short term and localised to immediate vicinity of
the works area. Marine construction
works have been designed to reduce potential impacts on the water quality which
will, in turn, reduce impacts on fisheries resources. No fisheries-specific mitigation measures are
required during construction.
No significant operational phase impacts to
fisheries resources, habitat and fishing operations are expected to occur. Impingement and entrainment of fisheries
resources will be mitigated through the appropriate design of the intake
screens. Unacceptable impacts from
discharges of RO concentrate are not anticipated to occur as the effects from
these discharges will be localised to the lower layers of the water column in
direct vicinity of the outfall.
Compliance with the relevant discharge standards to control water
quality impacts to within acceptable levels is also expected to control impacts
to fisheries resources. No additional
fisheries-specific mitigation measures are required during operation.
All of the potential construction and
operational fisheries impacts identified are deemed acceptable.