Fisheries
Hong Kong originated as a tiny fishing village, and that is why fisheries is deep in many people’s hearts in Hong Kong. It is therefore no surprise that the fisheries section is a relatively detailed one in this EIA.
The EIA covers potential impact on both capture and culture fisheries during the construction and operation of the project, where key issues such as potential loss of fishing grounds, important spawning and nursery grounds of commercially important species (e.g. fish and shrimp) within the assessment area and adverse impacts on oyster farming are focused on.
The EIA found that the major impact is the permanent loss from land reclamation of 168 hectares of sea area that can be fished without the project. This impact is considered permanent because even when construction is over, fishermen still can’t fish. Another impact will be a temporary loss of 300 hectares of sea area. This impact is considered temporary because the area will supposedly be available again after construction.
The EIA concluded that for the boundary crossing facility, the impacts are minor, because the affected area is of low fishing productivity, with a loss of around 55,000kg of fish per year. As for the Link Road, the EIA concluded that the impacts are insignificant because the area is of even lower fishing productivity, with a loss of about 1350kg per year.
The EIA covers potential impact on both capture and culture fisheries during the construction and operation of the project, where key issues such as potential loss of fishing grounds, important spawning and nursery grounds of commercially important species (e.g. fish and shrimp) within the assessment area and adverse impacts on oyster farming are focused on.
The EIA found that the major impact is the permanent loss from land reclamation of 168 hectares of sea area that can be fished without the project. This impact is considered permanent because even when construction is over, fishermen still can’t fish. Another impact will be a temporary loss of 300 hectares of sea area. This impact is considered temporary because the area will supposedly be available again after construction.
The EIA concluded that for the boundary crossing facility, the impacts are minor, because the affected area is of low fishing productivity, with a loss of around 55,000kg of fish per year. As for the Link Road, the EIA concluded that the impacts are insignificant because the area is of even lower fishing productivity, with a loss of about 1350kg per year.
This photo shows the area of fishing ground loss. Photo: EIA
One thing to note is that there are some subsistence fishermen like this old lady, who live in villages around the Link Road and primarily fish there. To them, the loss of 1350kg is quite significant. Also, during the construction of the Link Road, local fishermen who fish in the area will be affected. The fact that they consider the impact on fisheries of the Link Road as insignificant begs the question whether they did consider culture fisheries as they have claimed.
Interestingly, according to the EIA, there is a positive impact to the fisheries industry. With the Boundary Crossing Facility in place, there will be an increase in sea wall area. According to the EIA, the sea wall acts as coral reefs that can potentially provide more nutrients and support more fish populations.
Interestingly, according to the EIA, there is a positive impact to the fisheries industry. With the Boundary Crossing Facility in place, there will be an increase in sea wall area. According to the EIA, the sea wall acts as coral reefs that can potentially provide more nutrients and support more fish populations.
This photo shows a similar artificial sea wall of the nearby Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Airliners.net
One of the mitigation procedures include install silt curtains that prevent sand and silt from polluting non-project areas. Another mitigation procedure is to place artificial reefs like these on the nearby seabeds after the project. These artificial reefs can support more fish and Chinese white dolphins.
An example of a silt curtain deployed to improve water quality. Photo: Screenshot of Project video
An example of an artificial reef placed in the bottom of the sea. Photo: http://condofish.wordpress.com
Our Critique
Positives
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Negatives
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