10.2 Legislation, Standards and
Guidelines
10.3 Methodology for Baseline
Establishment and Impact Assessment
10.4 Fisheries Baseline Conditions
10.5 Fisheries Impact Evaluation
10.1
Figures
Figure 10.1 Distribution of Fisheries Production (overall) (Port Survey 2016/17, AFCD)
Figure 10.2 Distribution
of Fishing Vessel Operation (sampan) (Port Survey 2016/17, AFCD)
Figure 10.4 Distribution
of Fisheries Production (sampan) (Port Survey 2016/17, AFCD)
Figure 10.6 Fisheries
Resources in the Vicinity of Lai Chi Wo Pier
Figure 10.7 Locations
of Fish Culture Zones in Hong Kong
10.1.1 Requirements of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study Brief
10.1.1.1 The EIA Study Brief (SB) No. ESB-305/2017 for the Project issued on 9 February 2018 has stipulated the technical requirements for Fisheries Impact Assessment (FIA), i.e. Section 3.4.11 and Appendix I of the EIA SB. The FIA covers the assessment of potential direct, indirect, short-term and long-term impacts on capture and aquaculture fisheries during the construction and operation stages of the Project.
10.1.2 Assessment Area
10.1.2.1 In accordance with the EIA SB, the assessment area for Lai Chi Wo Pier is the same as the assessment area for water quality impact assessment i.e. areas within 500m from the boundary of the Projects and the works of the Projects, and shall cover the Mirs Bay Water Control Zone as designated under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance. The assessment area shall be extended to include other areas if they are also found being impacted by the construction or operation of the Project during the course of the EIA study. Special attention should be given to loss or disturbance of fishing ground, water quality deterioration at sensitive receivers such as Fish Culture Zones, spawning and nursery ground of commercial fisheries resources in the north-eastern waters of Hong Kong, and proposed Fisheries Protection Areas.
10.2 Legislation, Standards and Guidelines
10.2.1.1 The local relevant regulations, legislation and guidelines for the assessment of fisheries impacts include the following:
(a) Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499) and the associated TM-EIAO;
(b) Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171) and its subsidiary legislation, the Fisheries Protection Regulations;
(c) Marine Fish Culture Ordinance (Cap. 353) and its subsidiary legislation;
(d) Marine Parks Ordinance (Cap. 476); and
(e) Water Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 358) and its subsidiary regulations and statements.
10.2.1.2 Annex 17 of the TM-EIAO sets out the general approach and methodology for assessments of fisheries impacts arising from a project or proposal, to allow a complete and objective identification, prediction and evaluation of the potential fisheries impacts. Annex 9 recommends the criteria that can be used for evaluating fisheries impacts.
10.2.1.3 Destructive fishing practices such as the use of explosive, toxic substances, electricity, dredging, suction and trawling devices for the purpose of fishing are detrimental to fisheries and the marine ecosystem are prohibited under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap 171).
10.2.1.4 Marine fish culture is protected and regulated by the Marine Fish Culture Ordinance (Cap. 353) which requires all marine fish culture activities to operate under licences in designated fish culture zones.
10.2.1.5 Under the Marine Parks Ordinance (Cap. 476), fishing activities, including commercial fishing, inside marine parks are restricted, and could only be conducted with a permit issued by the Authority.
10.2.1.6 Water Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 358) aims to control water pollution in the waters of Hong Kong. According to the Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation, Hong Kong waters are divided into ten water control zones (WCZ). Water control zones are designated with individual water quality objectives to promote the conservation and best use of those waters in the public interest. Corresponding statements of Water Quality Objectives (WQO) are stipulated for different water regimes (marine waters, inland waters, bathing beaches subzones, secondary contact recreation subzones and fish culture subzones) in each of the WCZ.
10.3 Methodology for Baseline Establishment and Impact Assessment
10.3.1 Methodology for Baseline Establishment
10.3.1.1 Existing information about the fisheries baseline conditions within the assessment area was reviewed. The relevant literature reviewed includes previous EIA studies, research studies, consultancy studies, and AFCD data. The review, with focus primarily on the Project Site and secondarily on the assessment area, aimed to collect fisheries data, establish the fisheries baseline conditions and identify practices, areas and species of potential fisheries importance which may be affected by the Project for incorporation into the assessment.
10.3.1.2 This review has included the followings:
·
Port
Survey 2016/17;
·
AFCD
latest Annual Report and website; and
·
Other
relevant reports from government and private sectors.
10.3.1.4 The latest Port Survey was carried out from 2016 to 2017, and is commonly referred to as Port Survey 2016/17. The results of Port Survey 2016/17 are available on the AFCD website. The fisheries resources within the assessment area of this Project were evaluated based upon the information from Port Survey 2016/17.
10.3.1.5 AFCD’s latest Annual Report and website provide the most updated information on the development and trend in Hong Kong fisheries. The latest annual fisheries production is also provided.
10.3.1.6 Other fisheries studies relevant to this FIA include:
·
Fisheries
Resources and Fishing Operations in Hong Kong Waters (ERM 1998);
·
Consultancy
Study on Fisheries and Marine Ecological Criteria for Impact Assessment (CCPC
2001);
·
Survey of
Juvenile Fish Resources at the Three Marine Parks at Northeast Hong Kong (Leung
et al. 2014) and
·
Hong Kong
Fisheries Resources Monitoring Report (SCSFRI 2017).
10.3.1.7 The validity of the information compiled during the literature review was assessed before it is adopted into present FIA.
10.3.2 Methodology for Impact Assessment
Identification
of Fisheries Sensitive Receivers
10.3.2.1 Fisheries Sensitive Receivers (FSRs) are defined in this FIA as resources or sites of fisheries importance and potentially be affected directly or indirectly by the Project.
Impact
Identification and Assessment
10.3.2.2 Impacts in the absence of mitigation were assessed. The construction and operational phase impacts on capture fisheries and culture fisheries activities were also assessed individually, then cumulatively, in combination with other existing, committed and proposed developments.
10.3.2.3 The FIA followed the criteria and guidelines for evaluating and assessing fisheries impact as stated in Annexes 9 and 17 of the TM-EIAO.
10.3.2.4 The assessment covered potential impact on both capture and culture fisheries during the construction and operation phases of the Project, and in combination with any cumulative impacts caused by projects implemented concurrently with or prior to the Project. The assessment covered:
·
Description
of the physical environmental background;
·
Description
and quantification of the existing fisheries activities (e.g. capture
fisheries, aquaculture, shellfish farming, collection, etc.);
·
Description
and quantification as far as possible of the existing fisheries resources (e.g.
major fisheries products and stocks, etc.);
·
Identification
of parameters (e.g. water quality parameters) and areas (e.g. breeding/spawning
grounds, nursery grounds, reefs) that are important to fisheries;
·
Identification
and quantification as far as possible of any direct/indirect, on-site/off-site
impacts on fisheries (e.g. water quality deterioration of fishing grounds/fish
culture zones caused by the Project);
·
Evaluation
of cumulative impacts on fisheries due to other planned and committed
concurrent development projects at or near the assessment area;
·
Proposals
of practicable mitigation measures with details on justification, description
of and programme feasibility as well as staff and
financial implications including those related to subsequent management and
maintenance requirements of the measures; and
·
Review of the
need of monitoring during the construction and operational stages of the
Project and, if necessary, proposals for a monitoring and audit programme.
Assessment Criteria
10.3.2.5 The significance of fisheries impacts was evaluated primarily based on the criteria set forth in Annex 9 of the TM-EIAO, including:
·
Nature of
impact;
·
Size of
affected area;
·
Loss of
fisheries resources/production;
·
Destruction
and disturbance of nursery and spawning grounds;
·
Impact on
fishing activity; and
·
Impact on
aquaculture activity.
10.3.2.6 Impacts are generally ranked as "minor", "moderate" or "severe", although in a few cases a ranking of "insignificant" (less than "minor") may be given. The ranking of a given impact vary based on the criteria listed above. Wherever possible, significance of fisheries impacts would be quantified to allow ready appreciation of relative significance. Quantification is straight forward for certain types of impacts, particularly fishing ground loss (usually measured in hectares). Quantification of other types of impact such as those on fishing and aquaculture activities requires the application of professional and value judgement. Such judgement may not be amenable to quantification.
10.3.2.7 In the present FIA, impacts on capture fisheries were assessed by the extent of fishing ground loss during construction and operational phases, and the potential decline in production due to loss of fishing ground, interferences on fishing operations, and loss of fisheries resources. Impacts on culture fisheries were mainly assessed by the level of changes of marine water quality.
10.3.2.8 Efforts were made to identify feasible and practicable mitigation measure required, which might be developed to reduce the severity of any negative impacts identified. These measures were described in term of scope, programme and feasibility during the construction and operation of the project.
10.3.2.9 Then, the assessment concluded whether the mitigation measures envisaged could alleviate any negative impacts of the Project and its components to within acceptable levels. The acceptability of the overall residual impacts was determined.
10.3.2.10 Cumulative impacts from concurrent projects (during both the construction and operational phases) were evaluated and included in this FIA. Planned/on-going development projects in the vicinity of the Project Site, in particular those would likely have cumulative fisheries impact during both the construction and operational phases of the Project were considered and the potential cumulative fisheries impacts were assessed. The cumulative construction phase impacts may include, cumulative water quality deteriorations (in particular suspended sediments), and cumulative disturbance impacts on fishing operations (particularly due to marine traffic of works vessels and works areas). The cumulative operational phase impacts would include, cumulative loss of fishing grounds (due to reclamation footprints, restricted areas, and other areas not available for fishing operations), changes of hydrological regime, tidal exchanges and water quality in Mirs Bay Water Control Zone due to the presence of marine structures, and disturbance to fishing operations due to operational phase marine traffic.
10.3.2.11 Finally, the assessment evaluated the need for fisheries monitoring and audit, and prescribes any required EM&A programme in detail.
10.4 Fisheries Baseline Conditions
10.4.1 Capture Fisheries
10.4.1.1 The fishing industry of capture fisheries makes an important contribution to Hong Kong in maintaining a steady supply of fresh marine fish to local consumers. In 2019, it produced an estimated 123,000 tonnes of capture fisheries valued at about $2.8 billion (Information from AFCD website, 2020).
10.4.1.2 AFCD Port Survey provides the most comprehensive information on capture fisheries in Hong Kong waters, including fishing operations and fisheries production (adult fish and fish fry).
10.4.1.3 The Port Survey consisted of an interview programme. In the Port Survey in 2016/17, about 36% of the local fishing fleet which accounted for all homeports, i.e. places at which local fishing vessels are based, and vessel types was interviewed (AFCD website, 2019). Particulars such as vessel length, type and homeport of the fishing vessel were recorded and information about their fishing operations and fisheries production in Hong Kong waters was collected during the interviews.
10.4.1.4
In Port Survey 2016/17, grid
cells were categorised into one of the 6 classes, in accordance with their
overall adult fish production, i.e. >0 - 50 kg/ha; >50-100 kg/ha;
>100-200 kg/ha; >200-300 kg/ha; >300-400 kg/ha; and >400-600 kg/ha.
As reported in Port Survey 2016/17, the overall fisheries production of adult
fish of the grid cells adjacent to the proposed works area of Lai Chi Wo were
ranked as moderate (>200-300 kg/ha) (Figure 10.1).
10.4.1.5 In Port Survey 2016/17, the fishing operation in grid cells was categorised into 6 classes, i.e. >0-50 vessels; >50-100 vessels; >100-200 vessels; >200-400 vessels; >400-600 vessels; and >600-800 vessels. Sampan is assumed as the only fishing operation near the Lai Chi Wo Pier as fishing vessels other than sampan are less likely to operate at the nearshore area. For sampan, grid cells adjacent to Lai Chi Wo have >200-600 vessels (regarded as moderate to high) (Figure 10.2). For other types of fishing vessels, >0-50 vessels operated near Lai Chi Wo, ranked as low (Figure 10.3). The fisheries production of sampan was regarded as low to moderate (>100-200 kg/ha) (Figure 10.4). For other types of fishing vessels, with >50-100 kg/ha near Lai Chi Wo (regarded as low) (Figure 10.5), the overall fisheries production (including all vessel type) was 200-300 kg/ha (regarded as moderate) (Figure 10.1).
10.4.1.6 AFCD monitored local fisheries resource to assess the changes in fisheries resources after the implementation of the trawl ban and other relevant fisheries management measures (SCSFRI 2017). Surveys were conducted at various stations across four areas in Hong Kong, i.e. north-eastern, south-eastern, south-western and north-western waters. The present waters of Lai Chi Wo fall within the north-eastern part of the AFCD’s study area. From the survey data between 2010 and 2015, the catches in the north-eastern part were mainly contributed, either in terms of abundance or biomass, by a number of commercial species from various families, including Clupeidae, Sciaenidae, Engraulidae, Penaeidae and Leiognathidae.
10.4.2 Spawning/Nursery Grounds and Artificial Reefs
10.4.2.1 The results of Port Survey 2016/17 indicated that fry collection was negligible throughout Hong Kong waters. Negligible fish fry production was found in the waters of Lai Chi Wo. However, according to a local study conducted by ERM (1998), the waters around Lai Chi Wo are within the spawning ground and nursery areas for commercial fisheries resources (Figure 10.6). Spawning species included Leiognathus brevirostris, Clupanodon punctatus and Metapenaeopsis palmensis, while nursery species included Chrysophrys major, Rhabdosargus sarba, Sparus spp. Metapenaeopsis palmensis and Lutjanus fry.
10.4.2.2 Under AFCD’s contract (AFCD/SQ/99/12 - Survey of Juvenile Fish Resources at the Three Marine Parks at Northeast Hong Kong), an overview on the juvenile fish resources in Marine Parks including Yan Chau Tong Marine Park where Lai Chi Wo Pier is located in was provided. With seine netting as the principal sampling method, 1551 individuals of 42 species from 21 families juvenile fishes were captured in Yan Chau Tong Marine Park during the study (Leung et al., 2014).
10.4.2.3 Lai Chi Wo is also an embayment with mangroves and seagrass bed, which is considered as important spawning and nursery grounds for marine organisms, including species of commercial value (PlanD, 2000). The corresponding significant nursery habitats in Lai Chi Wo were also identified in “Survey of Juvenile Fish Resources at the Three Marine Parks at Northeast Hong Kong” (Leung et al., 2014).
10.4.2.4 No artificial reef was deployed in the waters adjacent to Lai Chi Wo. On the other hand, 13 artificial reefs were deployed in the waters of Double Haven (Figure 10.6).
10.4.3 Culture Fisheries
10.4.3.1 As there is no fishpond in the vicinity of Lai Chi Wo, pond fish culture is not an issue for this FIA and is not further discussed. This FIA only focuses on mariculture of culture fisheries. The predominant type of mariculture in Hong Kong is marine fish culture. Marine fish culture involves rearing of marine fish from fry or fingerlings to marketable size in cages suspended by floating rafts usually in sheltered coastal areas. The species cultured have changed gradually over the recent years depending on the availability of imported fry mainly from Mainland, Thailand, The Philippines or Indonesia. Common species under culture include green grouper, brown-spotted grouper, giant grouper, Russell’s snapper, mangrove snapper, gold lined seabream, and star snapper (Information from AFCD website, 2019).
10.4.3.2 There are five fish culture zones within the assessment area of Lai Chi Wo, i.e. Ap Chau, Kat O, O Pui Tong, Sai Lau Kong and Wong Wan Fish Culture Zones (Figure 10.7). The nearest fish culture zone at Sai Lau Kong at about 2.15 km from Lai Chi Wo Pier was identified as a Water Sensitive Receiver under Section 5.
10.4.4.1 The fisheries baseline was established based on information collected from available literature including previous research studies, consultancy studies, and AFCD data, which covered fisheries production, resources and activities within the assessment area of Lai Chi Wo. The existing literature provides sufficient information for the establishment of fisheries profiles in the assessment area. In addition, the major marine-based works would be the construction of the pier foundation, and non-dredged approach is proposed in constructing the pier foundations to minimise the disturbance to the seabed and thus the release of suspended solids. Hence, due to the small scale of the project and sufficient information for the establishment of fisheries profiles at the project site, fisheries field survey is not necessary and was not conducted.
10.5 Fisheries Impact Evaluation
10.5.1 Identification of Key Works
10.5.1.1 The proposed LCW Pier will be constructed on top of the existing pier and will be supported by piles. The piled deck structure will be of a length of about 155m and widths ranging from 6m to 8m increased to 15m at the pier head for both traditional pier head and floating pontoon provision. An above-seabed downstand wall will be constructed to reduce wave actions around the floating pontoon. A temporary pier of prefabricated steel structure supported by piled foundation will also be deployed about 30 m to the north of the existing pier and will be about 70m long and 3m wide.
10.5.2 Construction Phase – Direct Impact
10.5.2.1 The proposed LCW Pier will be constructed on top of the existing LCW Pier and the pier deck structure will be supported by piles. Piles will be constructed through the marine waters, thus direct encroachment of fishing grounds is expected. The plan view of proposed LCW Pier to be constructed would occupy a total area of around 0.156 ha. To take a conservative approach, it is assumed the area of fishing grounds loss will be 0.156 ha. Additional area of fishing ground will be temporarily lost due to the works area as well as the temporary pier (around 1.37 ha).
10.5.2.2 When compared with the 1,651 km2 (approximately 165,100 ha) of Hong Kong’s total marine waters (EPD, 2013) which is mostly available for fishing, the construction phase fishing ground loss caused by the Project is considered to be of insignificant proportion.
10.5.2.3 Although the lost fishing grounds are of moderate production (>200-300 kg/ha), the magnitude of the fisheries impact would be very low due to the small sizes of the marine works. Physical loss of fishing ground therefore should not be a critical issue for fisheries. The fisheries impact is therefore considered insignificant and hence no mitigation measure is required.
10.5.2.4 After setting up of the marine works area, fishermen who originally use that area as part of their fishing grounds might need to shift their operation locations to other locations/areas. Based on the information from Port Survey 2016/17, and the facts that the area is close to the existing coastline, it is expected that the fishing vessels which operate in this area, if any, would be mainly small fishing vessels such as sampans. Moderate to high numbers of vessels (>200-600 sampans) were operating in the area according to the Port Survey 2016/17, and sampans are more flexible than large vessel during operation. Hence, the impact on fishing operation is considered Minor and no mitigation measure is required.
10.5.3 Construction Phase – Indirect Impact
10.5.3.1 High suspended solids level might block the gill of fish and other marine organisms and would affect the gaseous exchange, while high turbidity would affect the foraging of organisms relying on eye sights. A lower oxygen level would affect stationary species, whilst mobile species would tend to temporarily avoid the area. The results could be a temporary reduction in abundance of fisheries resources. Nutrients and/or contaminants in the seabed sediment might be released into the marine waters when the sediment is disturbed and might have negative effects on water quality such as increasing the chances of algal bloom or accumulation of contaminants inside organisms.
10.5.3.2 Since piled foundation will be adopted to support the pier structures of the proposed LCW Pier which has totally avoided the need of open sea dredging, large scale release of contaminants from the sediment would not be anticipated, and the suspended solids would be further localized with the use of pile casings during the piling works. Hence, the water quality effect on fisheries resources as well as other fisheries sensitive receivers such as Fish Culture Zones, spawning ground and nursery areas for commercial fisheries resources, would be Minor. Silt curtain will be installed to further minimize the increased suspended solids during construction phase. Potential negative impacts from the deployment of silt curtain such as further reduction of fisheries resources are very limited.
10.5.3.3 Although most of the pier structures of the proposed LCW Pier will be constructed by prefabrication method, pollutants or chemical spillage from the works area might still be anticipated. The magnitude is not expected to be significant and should be transient. The potential water quality impacts due to construction works including site runoff, sewage from workforce, wastewater from various construction activities, and accidental spillage would be controlled through the implementation of suitable site facilities, and no adverse water quality impacts would be anticipated due to spillage, sewage from works forces and wastewater from construction works. The potential impacts are ranked as insignificant.
10.5.3.4 As suspend solids and pollutant or chemical spillage, if any, would be localized, hence, no significant impact is expected for the Fish Culture Zones, embayment with mangrove and seagrass as well as the spawning and nursery grounds for fisheries species in the vicinity.
10.5.4 Operational Phase – Direct Impact
10.5.4.1 The footprint of the LCW Public Pier would occupy a total area of about 0.156ha and cause a permanent loss of fishing ground. The loss is considered to be of insignificant proportion compared with the 1,651 km2 (approximately 165,100 ha) of Hong Kong's total marine waters (EPD 2013) which is mostly available for fishing.
10.5.5 Operational Phase – Indirect Impact
10.5.5.1 As only piles will be constructed in the marine habitats, change in hydrodynamics is not expected. Pollution from marine traffics to marine waters is also not expected. No maintenance dredging would be required for the public pier, and therefore no water quality impacts could be induced. No significant impact is also expected for the Fish Culture Zones, embayment with mangrove and seagrass as well as the spawning and nursery grounds of commercial fisheries resources in the vicinity. Hence, no operational phase impacts are anticipated from the Project.
10.6.1.1 As the proposed pier improvement only involves marine-based construction works, concurrent projects related to marine works were considered.
10.6.1.2 For concurrent project in Lai Chi Wo, there is only one committed project, named “Signature Project Scheme (North District) – Improvement of Trails and Provision of Facilities in Sha Tau Kok”, on the landside of Lai Chi Wo that is within 500m assessment area of the Project. Given that the works within 500m assessment area of the Project mainly to refurnish the signage boards in Lai Chi Wo and are all land-based, cumulative fisheries impacts due to marine works are not anticipated.
10.7.1 Consideration of Impact Avoidance
10.7.1.1 The waters around Lai Chi Wo is within the spawning ground and nursery area for commercial fisheries resources. Alternative locations for the LCW Pier is considered not feasible, or else the pier will be located far away from the Lai Chi Wo Village. Nevertheless, there is no mariculture site within the proposed LCW Pier. The proposed pier is also not located in waters of high fisheries production or fish fry collection.
10.7.2 Consideration of Impact Minimisation
10.7.2.1 During the construction phase, the mitigation measures as detailed in Section 5 for water quality should be implemented / adopted. The mitigation measures cover the potential water quality impacts from marine-based site investigation works, marine-based foundation works, above-water construction works, site run-off from general site operation, accidental spillage of chemicals and sewage from workforce. With the implementation of the mitigation measures for water quality, no adverse fisheries impact is anticipated, and no additional mitigation measure is required.
10.7.2.2 No specific mitigation measures would be required for the operational phase of the Project.
10.7.2.3
From the information presented
above, the fisheries impacts associated with the Project are
considered to be Minor, based on an evaluation of the impacts to Lai Chi
Wo according to Annex 9 of the TM-EIAO is shown in Tables 10.1.
Table 10.1 Impact Evaluation for Potential Fisheries Impact during Construction and Operational Phases in Lai Chi Wo
|
Potential
Impact |
Nature of impact |
Size of affected area |
Loss of fisheries resources/ production |
Destruction and disturbance of nursery and
spawning grounds |
Impact on fishing activity |
Impact on aquaculture activity |
Impact significance |
Mitigation required |
|
Construction
Phase |
||||||||
|
Direct loss of fishing ground by construction of
foundation |
Permanent for the footprint of the proposed pier,
temporary for the works area, and the footprint of
temporary pier |
1.526 ha = (0.156 + 1.37 ha) of fishing ground |
Insignificant |
With potential impact on the nursery and spawning
grounds for pier, but the impact would be insignificant. |
N/A |
N/A |
Insignificant |
No |
|
Disturbance of fishing activities by the proposed
pier and works area of pier |
Permanent for the footprint, temporary for the
works area |
Same as fishing ground loss |
N/A |
N/A |
Minor |
N/A |
Minor |
No |
|
Indirect disturbance of fisheries habitats due to
deterioration of water quality from the construction works |
Temporary |
Localize in the vicinity of the pier |
Low, the areas near the pier are not of high
fisheries production |
Insignificant |
N/A |
Insignificant |
Minor |
Follow water quality mitigation measures (e.g.
silt curtain) |
|
Operational
Phase |
||||||||
|
Direct loss of fishing ground at the footprint of
the pier |
Permanent |
0.156 ha of fishing ground (Same as the size of
the footprint) |
Insignificant |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Insignificant |
No |
|
Disturbance of fishing activities by the
footprint of the pier |
Permanent |
Same as fishing ground loss |
N/A |
N/A |
Insignificant |
N/A |
Insignificant |
No |
|
Change of hydrodynamics by the proposed pier |
N/A |
N/A |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No impact |
No |
10.8.1.1 Site inspections follow water quality chapter (Section 5) during construction phase should be carried out to monitor any malpractice leading to deterioration of water quality of the surrounding which may in turn affect the fisheries resources (i.e. a monitoring and audit programme aims to ensure that the released SS concentrations from the piling activities). As there are no anticipated adverse impacts during operational phase, monitoring and audit requirements are not required.
10.10.1.1
The assessment area for the FIA
included the Project Site and any other areas likely to be impacted by the
Project. Special attentions have been given to loss or disturbance of fishing
grounds, fisheries habitats, spawning and nursery grounds, and water quality
deterioration at FSRs.
10.10.1.2 Information from literature is incorporated, which provided sufficient information on fisheries resources in the assessment area. The fisheries productions in the vicinity of the pier are regarded as moderate and in Lai Chi Wo. As only piles will be constructed to support the pier structures, and prefabricated structures will be built on-top, together with the approaches for avoidance and minimization of impacts, potential fisheries impact on fisheries resources due to construction and operation of the pier are considered Minor.
10.10.1.3 Since no unacceptable adverse impacts on fisheries resources and fishing operations are anticipated, no fisheries-specific mitigation measures are required.
· AFCD 2020. AFCD website.
· AFCD 2018. Port Survey 2016/17. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSAR Government.
· CCPC 2001. Agreement No. CE 62/98 – Consultancy Study on Fisheries and Marine Ecological Criteria for Impact Assessment. Prepared for Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSAR Government.
· ERM 1998. Fisheries Resources and Fishing Operations in Hong Kong Waters.
· Leung, P.T.Y. Mak, S, Ip, J., Yau, C., Lai, V. and Leung, K.M.Y. 2014. Survey of Juvenile Fish Resources at the Three Marine Parks at Northeast Hong Kong. Prepared for Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSAR Government.
· South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute (SCSFRI) 2017. Hong Kong Fisheries Resources Monitoring Report (2010-2015). Prepared for Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSAR Government.