Technical Memorandum
Annex 17
ANNEX
17 : GUIDELINES FOR FISHERIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT
1. General
1.1 These guidelines
describe the general approach and methodology used in conducting a fisheries
impact assessment study. The general approach and methodology may vary
from case to case, depending on the nature of the fisheries issues and
the latest development in methods and techniques.
1.2 A fisheries
impact assessment is part of an environmental impact assessment (EIA)
study for a proposed development which may affect fishing and aquaculture
activities, fisheries resources and habitats, and aquaculture sites
(gazetted marine fish culture zones, fish ponds and oyster beds). It
aims at providing sufficient and accurate data to allow a complete and
objective predictions and evaluation of the potential fisheries impacts.
2. Determination
on the Need for Fisheries Impact Assessment
2.1 The types of
development projects may require a fisheries impact assessment include:
- development
projects listed in Schedule 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment
Ordinance and involving seabed, foreshores and fish ponds that may
affect fishing and aquaculture activities, fisheries resources and
habitats, and aquaculture sites; or
- development
projects listed in Schedule 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment
Ordinance and with direct or indirect discharges of any kind of pollutants
which may affect fishing and aquaculture activities, fisheries resources
and habitats, and aquaculture sites.
3. Fisheries
Impact Assessment Study
3.1 A fisheries
impact assessment study shall consist of 5 parts of equal importance:
- Provision of
comprehensive and accurate baseline information on fisheries;
- Prediction
of potential fisheries impacts;
- Evaluation
of the significance of the impacts predicted;
- Recommendations
of cost-effective and practicable alternatives and mitigation measures;
- Recommendations
of an appropriate monitoring programme.
3.2 Fisheries
Baseline Information
3.2.1 A fisheries
assessment study shall provide adequate and accurate baseline data of
a proposed development site and its adjacent area of probable impact
(the study area) for accurate prediction and evaluation of fisheries
impacts. The baseline study shall include at least the following:
- Review and
Collation of Existing Information
Existing information
regarding the study area shall be reviewed. Such information includes
both published and unpublished materials. Useful information could
also be obtained from consultation of local fishermen/aquaculturists,
marine and fisheries biologists, and non-government organizations
and relevant government departments.
The accuracy
and usefulness of the fisheries information obtained must be carefully
evaluated before adopting it in the EIA report. Aspects such as
time of survey (is the information out of date ?), methodology,
etc. shall be taken into account. If there are doubts, they shall
be verified by on-site survey(s).
- Field Surveys
Based on the
results of (i) above, the study shall identify data gap and determine
if there is any need for field surveys. The primary aim of the field
surveys is to fill the data gap and to gather adequate information
for subsequent fisheries impact prediction and evaluation, formulation
of proposed mitigation measures and monitoring requirements. If field
surveys are considered necessary, the study shall recommend appropriate
methodology, duration and timing for the field surveys. the field
surveys and laboratory analysis must be undertaken by suitably trained
and competent personnel with adequate knowledge in fisheries and laboratory
works. The data obtained shall be quantified and statistical analysis
shall be applied wherever appropriate.
3.2.2 Fisheries
information required for fisheries impact assessment shall include,
but not be limited to -
- level of fisheries
resources and composition of commercially important species in the
study areas;
- the level and
pattern of fishing activity and fisheries production in the study
area;
- sites of fisheries
importance such as nursery and spawning grounds of commercially important
species of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other marine organisms,
and seasonal occurrence of juvenile and spawning stocks in the study
area;
- aquaculture
activity in the study area.
3.3 Prediction
of Impacts
3.3.1 Based on
the project profile and fisheries baseline information gathered, the
fisheries impact study shall predict potential fisheries impacts caused
by a proposed development. All potential impacts, including direct,
indirect, long term, short term, on-site, off-site, primary, secondary,
tertiary, induced, additional, synergistic, cumulative impacts, etc,
shall be listed out. Suitable methodology such as checklists (descriptive,
scaling, etc.), matrices, networks, features mapping, etc, shall be
used and clearly stated whenever applicable. the nature and extent of
impacts on aquaculture and capture fisheries shall be described and
quantified.
3.3.2 Prediction
of impacts on fisheries shall take into account, but not exclusively
rely upon, assessments for water quality and ecological impacts.
3.4 Evaluation
of Impacts
3.4.1 The significance
of the predicted impacts of a proposed development on aquaculture and
capture fisheries shall be evaluated as systematically as practicable
using well defined criteria. The general criteria used are presented
in Annex 9.
3.5 Proposing
Mitigation Measures
3.5.1 The general
policy for mitigating impacts on fisheries, in order of priority, are:
- Avoidance
Potential
impacts shall be avoided to the maximum extent practicable such
as adopting suitable alternatives (e.g. change of site, design,
construction method, alignment, layout, programme, etc.). In extreme
cases when the fisheries impact assessment study identifies some
very serious but unmitigatable impacts, the "no-go" alternative
which may be the only realistic option shall be included and assessed
against all other options.
- Minimizing
Unavoidable
impacts shall be minimized 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, etc.
- 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.
3.5.2 All mitigation
measures recommended shall be practicable and cost-effective within
the context of Hong Kong. The effectiveness of the proposed mitigation
measures shall be carefully evaluated and the significance of any residual
impacts after implementing them shall be clearly stated.
3.6 Recommendation
for Monitoring and Audit Programme
The purpose of
fisheries monitoring and audit are:
- to verify the
accuracy of the predictions of the fisheries impact assessment study;
- to detect any
unpredicted fisheries impacts arising form the proposed development;
and
- to monitor
the effectiveness of the mitigation measures.
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