TABLE OF CONTENTS
10
Fisheries Impact
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Environmental Legislation, Standards and Assessment Criteria
10.3 Assessment Methodology
10.4 Fisheries Baseline Condition
10.5 Identification and Evaluation of Potential Impacts
10.6 Cumulative Impact
10.7 Mitigation Measures
10.8 Evaluation of Residual Fisheries Impacts
10.9 Environmental Monitoring and Audit
10.10 Conclusion
10.11 References
List of tables
Table 10.1.......... List of Relevant Literature
Table 10.2.......... Annual Pond Fish Production
and Fishpond Areas between 2013 and 2023
Table 10.3.......... Summary of Ponds Identified
within the Assessment Area and Project Site
Table 10.4.......... Potential Impacts during the
Construction and Operational Phase
Table 10.5.......... Summary of Impact on
Fisheries Resources (Active Fishponds) within Assessment Area
Table 10.6.......... Summary of Impact on
Fisheries Resources (Inactive Fishponds) within Assessment Area
Table 10.7.......... Summary of Impact on
Fisheries Resources (Abandoned Fishponds) within Assessment Area
Table 10.8.......... Identified Fishpond Areas under Concurrent Development Projects within
the Assessment Area
LIST OF FIGURES
|
Figure
10.1
|
Locations of Fishponds within Assessment Area (Key Plan)
|
|
Figure
10.1.1
|
Locations of Fishponds within Assessment Area (Sheet 1 of 4)
|
|
Figure
10.1.2
|
Locations of Fishponds within Assessment Area (Sheet 2 of 4)
|
|
Figure
10.1.3
|
Locations of Fishponds within Assessment Area (Sheet 3 of 4)
|
|
Figure
10.1.4
|
Locations of Fishponds within Assessment Area (Sheet 4 of 4)
|
LIST OF Appendix
|
Appendix
10.1
|
Representative Photographs of Fishponds within the Assessment Area
|
10
Fisheries
Impact
10.1
Introduction
10.1.1 This section presents the baseline fisheries profile
within the assessment area, and the assessment on the potential fisheries
impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Project.
The fisheries impact assessment has been conducted in accordance with the
requirement in Annexes 9 and 17 of the Technical Memorandum on Environmental
Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM) and the requirements in Section 3.4.10 and
Appendix I of the EIA Study Brief (ESB-363/2023).
10.2
Environmental Legislation, Standards and
Assessment Criteria
10.2.1 This fisheries impact assessment has made reference to the following ordinances and guidelines to
identify the importance of fisheries resources, and assess potential impacts
arising from the Project:
· The Environmental
Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499);
· Annexes 9 and 17 of
the EIAO-TM; and
· Water Pollution
Control Ordinance (Cap. 358).
10.3
Assessment
Methodology
Assessment Area
10.3.1 In accordance with the EIA Study Brief, the assessment
area for fisheries impact assessment includes areas within 500 metres distance from the boundary of the proposed
development and the associated works of the Project (i.e. the Project Site),
and other areas if they are found also being impacted by the construction or
operation of the Project. Part of the areas within the Project Site are
under other existing/planned projects, i.e. the existing temporary transitional
housing development, Northern Link (NOL) Main Line and First Phase Development
of the New Territories North – San Tin/Lok Ma Chau Development Node (Figure 10.1 refers).
Thus, these areas have been excluded from this assessment. Special attention
has been given to the potential loss or disturbance of fishponds and pond fish
culture activities as well as any watercourses which
serve as water sources for fishpond areas.
Methodology
10.3.2 Literature review and desktop study were conducted to
collate the latest baseline conditions regarding culture fisheries resources
within the assessment area. A list of available literature is provided in
Table
10.1 below.
Table 10.1
List of Relevant Literature
|
No.
|
Relevant Literature
|
|
1.
|
Aquaculture Data from Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Department (AFCD) website (AFCD, 2024b[11])
|
|
2.
|
Accredited Fish Farm Scheme – Registered Fish Farms (AFCD, 2024c[12])
|
|
3.
|
AFCD Departmental Annual Reports 2013-2023 (AFCD, 2015[1],
2016[2], 2017[3], 2018[4], 2019[5],
2020[6], 2021[7], 2022[8], 2023[9],
2024a[10])
|
|
4.
|
EIA Report for Ngau Tam Mei Water Treatment Works Extension (Register
No.: AEIAR-262/2024) (WSD, 2024[18])
|
|
5.
|
EIA Report for STLMC DN (Register No.: AEIAR-261/2024) (CEDD, 2024[15])
|
|
6.
|
EIA Report for Northern Link (Register No.: AEIAR-259/2024) (MTR
Corporation Limited, 2023[17])
|
|
7.
|
EIA Report for Proposed Low-rise and Low-density Residential
Development at Various Lots and their Adjoining Government Land in D.D. 104,
East of Kam Pok Road, Mai Po, Yuen Long. New Territories (Register No.:
AEIAR-205/2017) (Glory Queen Limited, 2016[16])
|
|
8.
|
EIA Report for Comprehensive Development and Wetland Protection near Yau
Mei San Tsuen (Register No.: AEIAR-189/2015) (Asia King Development Limited,
2015[13])
|
|
9.
|
EIA Report for Proposed Residential Cum Passive Recreation Development
within "Recreation" Zone and "Residential (Group C)" Zone
at Various Lots in DD 104, Yuen Long, N.T. (Register No.: AEIAR-182/2014)
(Capital Chance Ltd, 2013[14])
|
|
10.
|
Recent aerial photos
|
10.3.3 In addition to the literature review with recent
aerial photographs, site visits were also undertaken between January 2022 and
June 2024 for the verification of the fishponds and associated fisheries
activities, with particular focus on those within the Project Site, where
accessible. The conditions of the fishponds and the fisheries activities
were observed and recorded. Drone photos were taken to facilitate the
assessment for inaccessible fishponds within the assessment area. Observation
was made on the presence of any aquaculture practice and activities (e.g.
draining, liming, re-profiling, stocking, feeding and harvesting), evidence of
any recently used devices/equipment and sign of vegetation management.
Assessment for Pond Culture
Fisheries
10.3.4 Concreted ornamental ponds and ponds utilised for non-fisheries related activities (e.g. for
wetland compensation or flood storage) were not considered as fishponds.
Based on the findings of site visits, fishponds have been categorised
as follows:
· Active: with
evidence of operating commercial aquaculture activities, including commercial
fishponds, fish fry ponds and indoor fish farms;
· Inactive: with no
evidence of operating commercial aquaculture activities, but no major physical
constraints to the resumption of operation in the short-term, including ponds
with fish present in non-commercial quantities and ponds for recreational fishing;
· Abandoned: with
physical evidence that aquaculture has not been taken place for many years (i.e.
overgrown with vegetation) and/or where there are obvious physical constraints
to the resumption of fisheries activity in short-term (e.g. ponds which are
fenced off and thus inaccessible); and
· Others: ponds that
are unrelated to commercial aquaculture activities, including ponds created for
wetland compensation, ecological enhancement or flood storage ponds, etc., and
were scoped out from further assessment.
10.3.5 The status of fishpond management was investigated
with reference made to the evidence of aquaculture activities, such as the
presence of fishing operation (e.g. stocking, feeding, harvesting), management
activities (e.g. pumping of water, draining, dredging, re-profiling and
maintenance grass trimming), and the presence of any associated equipment (e.g.
aerators, conditions of pond bund and fodder) and their conditions.
Attention was also given to any watercourses which
potentially serve as water sources for fishponds.
10.4
Fisheries Baseline Condition
Description of the Environment
and Baseline Condition
Aquaculture (Pond Fish
Culture)
10.4.1 Fishponds were mainly identified at the east near the
Ngau Tam Mei Water Treatment Works (NTMWTW) and southeast of the assessment
area. Some scattered fishponds were recorded along both sides of Ngau Tam
Mei Drainage Channel (NTMDC). Clusters of fishponds were also identified
to the west of San Tin Highway, mainly near Yau Mei San Tsuen and southwest
near Man Yuen Chuen. Pond fish culture of various statuses were identified, including active, inactive and abandoned
fishponds (Figures 10.1.1 to 10.1.4 refer).
Other Fisheries Resources
10.4.2 No other fisheries resources such as capture fisheries
or other aquaculture (e.g. Fish Culture Zones or oyster culture) were recorded
within the assessment area. Considering the absence of these other fisheries resources, potential impacts on these resources
are not anticipated. Detailed information on these resources were scoped out from this chapter.
Pond Fish Culture Activities
and Resources
Desktop Study
10.4.3 Pond fish culture has been centred
in the northwest New Territories. About 92% of the fish farms are engaged in
polyculture (including bighead carp, grass carp, common carp and silver carp in
combination with tilapia or grey mullet). The remaining 8% practise
monoculture of carnivorous species such as giant groupers, seabreams and
spotted scat in brackish fishponds near to the coastline (AFCD, 2024b[11]).
10.4.4 According to the data from AFCD on aquaculture in Hong
Kong, the production of pond fish was stabilised
until 2021 but has declined significantly since 2022. Annual pond fish
production and fishpond areas in the territory are listed in Table 10.2 below. Local pond fish production only
accounted for about 5% of total consumption of freshwater fish in 2022 (AFCD,
2024b[11]).
Table 10.2
Annual Pond Fish Production and Fishpond Areas between 2013 and 2023
|
Year
|
Pond Fish Production (tonne)
|
Fishpond Area (hectare)
|
|
2023
|
1,052
|
1,130
|
|
2022
|
2,100
|
1,130
|
|
2021
|
2,900
|
1,130
|
|
2020
|
2,500
|
1,130
|
|
2019
|
2,300
|
1,130
|
|
2018
|
2,500
|
1,130
|
|
2017
|
2,543
|
1,132
|
|
2016
|
2,543
|
1,135
|
|
2015
|
2,092
|
1,140
|
|
2014
|
2,001
|
1,140
|
|
2013
|
2,187
|
1,150
|
Source: AFCD,
2015[1], 2016[2], 2017[3], 2018[4],
2019[5], 2020[6], 2021[7], 2022[8],
2023[9], 2024a[10],
2024b[11]
Fisheries Resources within the
Assessment Area
Recent Site Visit Findings
10.4.5 The distribution and physical conditions of the fishponds are similar and comparable to the baseline
conditions identified from literature review, which are considered relevant for
assessment. According to the findings of site visits, scattered fishponds
including active, inactive and abandoned fishponds were recorded across the
assessment area. Within the assessment area, fishponds were mainly
identified at the east near the NTMWTW and southeast of the assessment area.
Some scattered fishponds were recorded along both sides of NTMDC.
Clusters of fishponds were also identified to the west of San Tin
Highway, mainly near Yau Mei San Tsuen and southwest near Man Yuen Chuen.
10.4.6 Among the fishponds recorded within the Project Site,
over half of the fishponds were active. These active fishponds were
mostly concentrated at the southeastern and eastern part of the Project Site,
which were within less accessible village areas. Direct rainfall
was the major water source of fishponds within the assessment area.
Active fishponds identified within the Project Site were situated along the
tributaries of NTMDC. These watercourses likely served as one of the supplementary
water sources for fishponds at the eastern part of the Project Site.
Other potential water sources for fishponds include wells and from adjacent
fishponds where water was pumped and drained from one pond to another.
Despite the higher portion of active fishponds recorded within the Project
Site, these fishponds are scattered comparing with adjacent San Tin counterpart
and are of smaller average pond size.
10.4.7 Apart from the recorded fishponds, three ponds were
identified as “Other Ponds (non-fisheries related)”, including P#56 (i.e. a
shallow, non-fisheries related pond to the southwest of Yau Mei San Tsuen),
P#182 (i.e. Pok Wai Flood Water Pumping Station), and P#183 (i.e. Chuk Yuen
Stormwater Pumping Station). The locations and statuses of the fishponds
and other ponds within the assessment area are shown in Figure 10.1.1 to 10.1.4. Representative photos showing
different types of fishponds are shown in Appendix 10.1.
10.4.8
A total of 183 number
of ponds were identified within the assessment area. As a
conservative approach, total loss of the fishponds was anticipated for fishponds which fall partially on the Project Site.
As a result, among the 183 ponds, 110 number of
fishponds (including 63 active fishponds, 19 inactive fishponds and 28
abandoned fishponds) fall wholly or partially within the Project Site.
The average pond sizes within the assessment area and Project Site are
0.12 ha and 0.07 ha respectively. In terms of active fishponds, their
total area accounts for 35.9% of the total ponds’ areas within assessment area
and 55.5% within the Project Site. Details of the size and number
of ponds recorded within the assessment area and Project Site are presented in Table 10.3 below.
Table 10.3 Summary of Ponds
Identified within the Assessment Area and Project Site
|
Pond Status
|
Within Assessment Area
|
Within Project Site(1)
|
|
Size of pond (ha) (%) (2)
|
Number of pond
|
Size of pond (ha) (%)(2)
|
Number of pond
|
|
Active
Fishponds
|
8.15 (35.9%)
|
90
|
4.08 (55.5%)
|
63
|
|
Inactive
Fishponds
|
5.74 (25.3%)
|
38
|
0.86 (11.7%)
|
19
|
|
Abandoned
Fishponds
|
6.79 (29.9%)
|
52
|
2.41 (32.8%)
|
28
|
|
Other
Ponds (Non-fisheries related)
|
2.03 (8.9%)
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
|
Total
|
22.71 (100%)
|
183
|
7.35 (100%)
|
110
|
Notes:
(1) Loss of whole fishpond has been
assumed for partial encroachment of Project Site boundary onto fishpond.
(2) The size and percentage
included in this table have been subject to rounding adjustments. Any
discrepancies between total and sums of individual numbers listed therein are
due to rounding.
10.4.9 Quite a number of the active
fishponds in the assessment area were found to be utilised for cultivation of non-edible ornamental
fish, such as Koi (Cyprinus carpio), while some were utilised for edible fish species. The active
fishponds along Ngau Tam Mei Road (i.e. P#27-31) were identified within the New
Age Organic Farm which has been registered under the AFCD Accredited Fish Farm
Scheme (AFCD, 2024c). Fishponds to the east of Yau Tam Mei Tsuen at the
south of NTMDC (i.e. P#49-53) were under active management. At the
southeastern part of the Project Site, several active fishponds (i.e.
P#127-129, P#136-143, P#144-153, P#154 and P#157) were located within the
village/private area and were inaccessible. Bird-scaring devices (e.g.
nets) were installed at some of these active fishponds to prevent birds from
preying on the edible/ornamental fish. A group of active fishponds were
identified at the east of the Project Site near NTMWTW (i.e. P#59-64, P#75,
P#77-80, P#82-97, P#101-114 and P#118-126; and indoor fishpond P#76).
These active fishponds were mostly utilised for
non-edible Koi culturing and practising intensive
management. To the west of San Tin Highway, active fishpond (i.e. P#7,
P#19, P#54, P#55, P#163 and P#165) were identified to
the northwest of Yau Mei San Tsuen and to the southwest near Man Yuen Chuen,
outside the Project Site.
10.4.10 Inactive fishponds were scattered across the assessment
area, including those to the northwest near Ko Hang and Yau Mei San Tsuen (i.e.
P#1-3, P#9, P#10, P#13-14 and P#18 and P#48), and to the southwest near Man
Yuen Chuen (i.e. P#164, P# 166 and P#175-180). A few were scattered along
both sides of NTMDC (i.e. P#20-23, P#57, P#58, P#133-135 and P#158), while some
were near NTMWTW (i.e. P#65-71, P#73, P#98-100 and P#115). These inactive
fishponds were observed with no current utilisation
for commercial aquaculture activities and lack of management for pond fish
culture.
10.4.11 Numbers of abandoned fishponds were also recorded
across the assessment area, including those to the northwest near Ko Hang and
Yau Mei San Tsuen (i.e. P#4-6, P#8, P#11, P#12, P#15-17, P#47), and to the
southwest near Man Yuen Chuen (i.e. P#159-162, P#167-174 and P#181).
Wholly or partially within the Project Site, there were some abandoned
fishponds identified along both sides of NTMDC and Yau Tam Mei Tsuen (i.e.
P#24-26, P#32-46, P#116-117, P#130-132, P#155 and P#156), and at the west of
the NTMWTW (i.e. P#72, P#74 and P#81). All of
these abandoned fishponds were observed with no current utilisation
for commercial aquaculture activities and with overgrown vegetations.
10.4.12 There are three “Other Ponds (non-fisheries related)”
located at the west of San Tin Highway (i.e. P#56, P#182 and P#183).
These three ponds were ponds recorded to the southwest of Yau Mei San
Tsuen, Chuk Yuen Stormwater Pumping Station and Pok Wai Flood Water Pumping
Station respectively.
10.5
Identification and Evaluation of Potential
Impacts
Identification of Potential
Impacts
10.5.1 Given that there are no capture fisheries or other
aquaculture such as Fish Culture Zones, oyster culture, sites of fisheries
importance within the assessment area, direct and indirect impacts to these
resources are not anticipated. Potential impacts arising from the Project
would be loss of fish culture area (i.e. fishponds), aquaculture activities and
aquaculture potential within the Project Site. The loss of fishponds and
other associated indirect impacts potentially occur during the construction and
operational phases are listed in Table 10.4
below.
Table 10.4 Potential
Impacts during the Construction and Operational Phase
|
Phase
|
Direct Impact
|
Indirect Impact
|
|
Construction
|
·
Loss of active
fishponds
·
Loss of
inactive fishponds
·
Loss of
abandoned fishponds
·
Loss of
watercourses for aquaculture activities
|
·
Deterioration of
water quality and hydrological condition
·
Bund stability
·
Blockage of
access
|
|
Operational
|
Nil
|
·
Deterioration
of water quality
·
Blockage of
access
|
10.5.2 Details of each identified potential impact on fisheries
resources are further described and evaluated in the following sections, with
reference made to the evaluation criteria denoted in the EIAO-TM. A
summary of impacts on fisheries resources are provided in Table 10.5 to Table 10.7.
Construction Phase – Direct
Impact
10.5.3 Under the Recommended Outline Development Plan (RODP)
(Figure 2.1 refers), fisheries
resources within the Project Site would be subject to direct permanent impact
due to the Project, resulting in direct loss of fishponds, associated fisheries
production, aquaculture activities and aquaculture potential. As a conservative
approach, loss of whole pond has been assumed for partial encroachment of
Project Site boundary onto fishpond due to construction activities.
10.5.4 Key fisheries resources within the Project Site,
including active fishponds, inactive fishponds and abandoned fishponds, were
mainly located at the southeast and the eastern part of the Project Site near
NTMWTW and in Yau Tam Mei Tsuen area.
Loss of Active Fishponds
10.5.5 Within the Project Site, quite a
number of active fishponds were utilised by
non-edible ornamental fish cultivation such as Koi. These active
fishponds were mostly situated at southeastern and eastern Project Site near
NTMWTW. A few active fishponds were situated near Yau Tam Mei Tsuen and
along Ngau Tam Mei Road (Figure
10.1 refers).
10.5.6
Direct permanent loss of fisheries
production and aquaculture activities at active fishponds (about 4.08 ha) would
be resulted from the Project (Table 10.3 refers).
The expected loss of 4.08 ha active fishponds accounts for about 55.5% of
the total fishpond areas within the Project Site and only 0.4% of fishpond areas in Hong Kong in terms of aquaculture.
10.5.7 Considering the area of permanent loss of active
fishponds does not account for a significant proportion of the total fishpond
areas in Hong Kong, the impact on fisheries resources is
considered to be low.
Loss of Inactive Fishponds
10.5.8
Similarly, the Project would result in
direct loss of 0.86 ha inactive fishpond, mostly situated at the southeastern
and the eastern Project Site near NTMWTW (Table 10.3 and Figure
10.1 refer). The expected direct loss of inactive fishponds
accounts for about 11.7% of the total fishpond areas within the Project Site
and makes up less than 0.1% of the fishpond areas in Hong Kong.
10.5.9 These inactive fishponds were observed without
aquaculture activities and with overgrown pond bunds during recent site
visits. These inactive fishponds are not anticipated to support
significant fisheries production. Considering the loss of inactive
fishponds does not account for a significant proportion of the total fishponds
area in Hong Kong, the impact on fisheries recourse is considered low.
Loss of Abandoned Fishponds
10.5.10
The Project would result in direct loss
of 2.41 ha abandoned fishpond, mostly located near Yau Tam Mei Tsuen and at the
southeastern part of the Project Site (Table 10.3 and Figure
10.1 refer). The expected loss of 2.41 ha abandoned fishponds
accounts for about 32.8% of the total fishpond areas within the Project Site
and makes up 0.2% of the fishpond areas in Hong Kong.
10.5.11 No fisheries activities were observed at these
abandoned fishponds. The conditions of these fishponds are no longer
suitable for short-term resumption of fisheries activities given the physical
constraints such as inaccessibility, deterioration of pond bund, etc., and
therefore are not anticipated to support significant fisheries production. The
loss of these abandoned fishpond areas is unlikely to result in significant
impact on aquaculture activities.
Loss of Watercourses for
Aquaculture Activities
10.5.12 Based on the RODP, watercourses within Project Site,
except NTMDC, would be permanently lost. Nonetheless,
watercourses/streams directing from hillside area at the east of the assessment
area, outside the Project Site, would not be impacted by the Project, and the
major water source for fishponds within the assessment area would be from
direct rainfall. As a result, impact to aquaculture activities in terms
of loss of water sources for unaffected fishponds and aquaculture activities
outside the Project Site, near NTMWTW and near Yau Mei San Tsuen, were not
anticipated.
Construction Phase – Indirect
Impact
Deterioration of Water Quality
and Hydrological Condition
10.5.13 Active and inactive fishponds were identified directly
adjacent to the east of the Project Site near NTMWTW. Considering the
proximity of these fishponds to the Project Site, indirect impact on fisheries
such as water quality impacts may arise from uncontrolled construction site
run-off and accidental spillage, etc.
10.5.14 Uncontrolled site run-off, chemical waste and sediment
generated from construction activities could potentially cause adverse water
quality impacts to the adjoining watercourses and water bodies, including
parameters such as pH value, dissolved oxygen (DO) and salinity. On the
other hand, the use and storage of chemicals, such as engine oil and
lubricants, during construction phase, may affect water quality if spillage
occurs and enters the adjacent water bodies. Groundwater pollution may also
arise from improper handling and storage of chemicals within the works sites,
where groundwater infiltrates. Without mitigation measures, these
potential water quality impacts may result in potentially low to moderate
impacts on the remaining active and inactive fishponds adjacent to the Project
Site.
10.5.15 Examples of relevant water quality control measures
are provided in Section 10.7, while details of these mitigation measures
are detailed in Section 5. Considering that the adjacent fishponds
are located at the upstream of the nearby watercourses, and the major water
source for fishponds within the assessment area would be from direct rainfall,
with proper implementation of the proposed mitigation measures, unacceptable
impacts on water quality are not expected, and thus no adverse impacts on
cultured fish due to potential water quality deterioration is anticipated
during the construction phase.
Bund Stability
10.5.16 Construction activities that occur adjacent or in
close vicinity to the fishponds located to the east of the Project Site near
NTMWTW may affect the integrity of the pond bunds, potentially resulting in
instability of the pond structure, or water seepage.
10.5.17 In the absence of mitigation measures, this indirect
impact could inhibit pond usage and result in potentially low to moderate
impact on the remaining active and inactive fishponds adjacent to the eastern
Project Site. With appropriate mitigation measures implemented to ensure
the stability of the pond bund during construction phase (e.g. sheet pile wall and associated grouting, further
described in Section 10.7), adverse impacts on aquaculture activities
are not anticipated.
Blockage of Access
10.5.18 During construction phase, construction activities may
affect the existing access to the remaining active fishponds at the eastern
part of the assessment area near NTMWTW. Without mitigation measures,
this may result in low to moderate impact to these
fishpond areas. Mitigation measures (e.g. provision of alternative access
road and access arrangement) should be in place to minimise
the potential blockage and the associated impact on fishpond areas during
construction phase.
Operational
Phase – Direct Impact
10.5.19 Based on the proposed land uses under the RODP, no
additional direct impacts on fisheries resources (e.g. loss of fishponds) are
anticipated during the operational phase of the Project.
Operational
Phase – Indirect Impact
Deterioration of Water Quality
10.5.20 As discussed above, active and inactive fishponds were
identified directly adjacent to the east of the Project Site near NTMWTW.
Potential indirect impacts may arise from uncontrolled surface run-off and
subsequent deterioration in water quality. In the absence of mitigation
measures, this could result in potentially low to moderate impacts on these
remaining fishponds.
10.5.21 Mitigation measures would be implemented to minimise the potential water quality impact arising from
the operational phase of the Project (Section 5 refers). Given the
drainage system of the Project Site would be properly designed and implemented,
in addition to direct rainfall as the major water source for fishponds within
the assessment area, adverse impacts on cultured fish due to potential water
quality deterioration during the operational phase are not anticipated.
Blockage of Access
10.5.22 Considering that access road and access arrangement will remain upon completion of construction
works, no further impact is anticipated to arise during the operational phase
of the Project.
Summary of Fisheries Impact
10.5.23 Based on the above discussion, the potential impacts
on fisheries resources arising from the construction, operation, and associated
wetland enhancement of the Project, where present, are summarised
in Table 10.5
to Table 10.7 below.
Table 10.5 Summary of
Impact on Fisheries Resources (Active Fishponds) within Assessment Area
|
Criteria
|
Construction Phase
|
Operational Phase
|
|
Nature of impact
|
Direct impact:
-
Permanent loss of active
fishponds within Project Site, quite a number were utilised for non-edible
ornamental fish cultivation
Indirect impact:
-
Reversible indirect water
quality impacts to fishponds directly adjacent to Project Site, due to
potential construction site run-off, accidental spillage and potential
contamination of surface water and groundwater
- Reversible
indirect impact on bund stability to fishponds directly adjacent to Project
Site
- Reversible
indirect impact on accessibility to fishponds adjacent to Project Site caused
by construction activities
|
Direct impact:
-
Nil
Indirect impact:
- Reversible indirect water quality
impacts to fishponds directly adjacent to Project Site, due to potential
uncontrolled surface run-off and subsequent deterioration in water quality
|
|
Size of affected area
|
Direct impact:
-
Permanent loss of active
fishponds within Project Site: 4.08 ha
Indirect impact:
-
Active fishponds
directly adjacent to the east of Project Site: 1.65 ha
|
Direct impact:
-
Nil
Indirect impact:
-
Active fishponds adjacent
to the east of the Project Site: 1.65 ha
|
|
Loss of fisheries resources / production
|
Direct loss of aquaculture activities and fisheries production within
Project Site (quite a number were utilised for non-edible ornamental fish
cultivation such as Koi)
|
Nil
|
|
Destruction and disturbance of nursery and spawning grounds
|
Not Applicable
(Remark: No nursery and spawning ground within assessment area)
|
|
Impacts on fishing activity
|
Not Applicable
(Remark: No fishing activities within assessment area)
|
|
Impact on aquaculture activity
|
Low direct and indirect impact affecting small area of active
fishponds within Project Site in the absence of mitigation measures, given
quite a number of the active fishponds were for
non-edible ornamental fish cultivation
|
Low indirect impact affecting small area of active fishponds next to
the Project Site
|
|
Overall impact before mitigation
|
Low
|
Low
|
Table 10.6
Summary of Impact on Fisheries Resources (Inactive Fishponds) within Assessment
Area
|
Criteria
|
Construction Phase
|
Operational Phase
|
|
Nature of impact
|
Direct impact:
-
Permanent loss of
inactive fishponds (which may also result in loss of aquaculture potential)
Indirect impact:
-
Reversible indirect
water quality impacts to fishponds directly adjacent to Project Site, due to
potential construction site run-off, accidental spillage and potential
contamination of surface water and groundwater during construction phase
- Reversible
indirect impact on bund stability during construction phase
- Reversible
indirect impact on accessibility to adjacent fishponds caused by construction
activities
|
Direct impact:
-
Nil
Indirect impact:
-
Reversible indirect
water quality impacts to fishponds directly adjacent to Project Site, due to
uncontrolled surface run-off and subsequent deterioration in water quality
|
|
Size of affected area
|
Direct impact:
-
Permanent loss of
inactive fishpond: 0.86 ha
Indirect impact:
-
Inactive fishponds
directly adjacent to the east of Project Site: 0.22 ha
|
Direct impact:
-
Nil
Indirect impact:
-
Inactive fishponds
directly adjacent to the east of Project Site: 0.22 ha
|
|
Loss of fisheries resources / production
|
Considering no active aquaculture observed, no loss of fisheries
production anticipated
|
Nil
|
|
Destruction and disturbance of nursery and spawning grounds
|
Not Applicable
(Remark: No nursery and spawning ground within assessment area)
|
|
Impacts on fishing activity
|
Not Applicable
(Remark: No fishing activities within assessment area)
|
|
Impact on aquaculture activity
|
No impact is anticipated on aquaculture activity
|
|
Overall impact before mitigation
|
Low
|
Low
|
Table 10.7 Summary of
Impact on Fisheries Resources (Abandoned Fishponds)
within Assessment Area
|
Criteria
|
Construction Phase
|
Operational Phase
|
|
Nature of impact
|
Direct impact:
-
Permanent loss of
abandoned fishponds
Indirect impact:
-
Nil
|
No adverse direct and indirect impacts are anticipated
|
|
Size of affected area
|
Direct impact:
-
Permanent loss of
abandoned fishpond: 2.41 ha
Indirect impact:
-
Nil
|
Not Applicable
|
|
Loss of fisheries resources / production
|
Considering no active aquaculture observed, no loss of fisheries
production anticipated
|
Not Applicable
|
|
Destruction and disturbance of nursery and spawning grounds
|
Not Applicable
(Remark: No nursery and spawning ground within assessment Area)
|
|
Impacts on fishing activity
|
Not Applicable
(Remark: No fishing activities within assessment Area)
|
|
Impact on aquaculture activity
|
No impact is anticipated on aquaculture activity
|
|
Overall impact before mitigation
|
Low
|
Not Applicable
|
10.6
Cumulative Impact
10.6.1 Cumulative impact may arise from the construction and
operation of the Project, due to interaction with other developments in the
area. The list of concurrent projects is stated in Table 2.7.
Major concurrent projects that may impose cumulative impact on
aquaculture activities and production include the NOL Main Line, NTMWTW Extension and STLMC DN. The direct loss
of fishponds areas within the assessment area due to concurrent projects are
listed below.
Table 10.8 Identified
Fishpond Areas under Concurrent Development Projects within the Assessment Area
|
|
Northern Link Main Line
|
Ngau Tam Mei Water Treatment Works Extension
|
San Tin / Lok Ma Chau Development Node
|
|
Size of fishponds
|
Active: 0.01 ha
Inactive: 0.04 ha
Abandoned: 0.20 ha
|
Nil
|
Active: 0.01 ha
|
|
Total Area
|
0.25 ha
|
Note:
(1) The size included in this table
has been subject to rounding adjustments. Any discrepancies between total and sums
of individual numbers listed therein are due to rounding.
10.6.2 The total direct loss area of fishponds due to concurrent
projects is limited (i.e. 0.25 ha) and the total direct loss of fishpond areas
due to the Project and concurrent projects within the assessment area accounts
for a loss of 0.7% of the overall fishpond areas in Hong Kong. Cumulative
impact on fisheries is therefore considered as low.
10.7 Mitigation Measures
10.7.1 According to the general policy of mitigating
fisheries impacts as discussed in Annex 17 of EIAO-TM, mitigation measures for minimisation of impacts to the fishponds in the vicinity of
the Project Site are recommended below.
Minimisation
Maintaining Bund Stability
10.7.2 During the
construction stage, all the affected fishponds (including fishponds located
partially within the Project Site) should be isolated and disconnected from any
existing watercourses in order to
minimise the potential water quality impact to the adjacent water bodies. The fishpond would be
drained before filling up these areas or before commencement of any excavation
or construction works. For affected fishponds
located partially within the Project Site, a layer of shoring or sheet pile wall
should be erected along the site boundary adjacent to the affected fishponds in order to maintain bund stability of the remaining bunds
outside the Project Site and the adjacent fishponds. In addition, the
shoring / sheet pile wall should have grouting or a grout curtain to avoid
water seepage from the affected fishpond to the adjacent area. With the
implementation of shoring / sheet pile, the stability of the remaining affected
/ adjacent fishpond bund should be preserved and the impacts on aquaculture
activities should be minimised.
Minimisation of Potential Water
Quality Impacts
10.7.3 In order to minimise the potential
indirect fisheries impacts due to deterioration of water quality, including
parameters such as pH value, dissolved oxygen (DO) and salinity, on the
adjacent fishponds, mitigation measures and good site practices should be
implemented during the construction phase, details refer to Section 5.
Examples of guidelines for control of construction site run-off and
construction-related activities, as well as other good site practices, are
described below. With proper implementation of the proposed mitigation
measures, unacceptable impacts on water quality are not anticipated.
Control of Construction Site Run-off
· Implementation of
Best Management Practices, following the guidelines for handling and disposal
of construction site discharges detailed in ProPECC
PN 2/24 Construction Site Drainage and ETWB TC (Works) No. 5/2005 Protection
of Natural Streams / Rivers from Adverse Impacts Arising from Construction Works;
· Controlling surface
run-off from construction site via adequately designed channels, earth bunds or
sandbag barriers, and directing the run-off to sand / silt removal facilities
such as sand traps, silt traps and sedimentation basins before discharging to
storm drains;
· Minimising soil
excavation in wet season (April to September) as far as practicable, and proper
covering of temporarily exposed slope surfaces, while intercepting channels
should be provided along the crest / edge of excavation; and
· Proper covering of
open stockpiles of construction materials during rainstorms (e.g. with
tarpaulin or similar fabric).
Control
of Construction-related Activities
· All vehicles and plants
should be cleaned before they leave the construction site to minimise the
deposition of earth, mud and debris in surrounding areas;
· Acidic wastewater
generated from acid cleaning, etching, pickling and similar activities should
be neutralised to within the pH range of 6 to 10 before discharging into foul
sewers. If there is no public foul sewer in the vicinity, the
neutralised wastewater should be transported off site for disposal
into foul sewers or treated to a standard acceptable to storm drains and the
receiving waters; and
· The Waste Disposal
Ordinance (Cap. 354) and its subsidiary regulations in
particular the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General)
Regulation, should be observed and complied with for control of chemical
wastes. The Contractor is also recommended to develop management
procedures for chemicals used and prepare an emergency spillage handling
procedure to deal with chemical spillage in case of accidents.
Other
Good Site Practices
· Nomination of
approved personnel, such as a site manager, to be responsible for
implementation of good site practices, arrangements for waste collection and
effective disposal to an appropriate facility;
· Training of site
personnel in site cleanliness, concepts of waste reduction, reuse and
recycling, proper waste management and chemical waste handling procedures;
· Provision of
sufficient waste reception / disposal points, and regular collection of waste;
· Adoption of
appropriate measures to minimise windblown litter and dust during
transportation of waste by either covering trucks or by transporting wastes in
enclosed containers;
· Provision of
regular cleaning and maintenance programme for drainage systems, sumps and
oil interceptors;
· Adoption of a
recording system for the amount of wastes
generated, recycled and disposed (including the disposal sites); and
· Preparation of
Waste Management Plan (WMP), as part of the Environmental Management Plan
(EMP).
10.8 Evaluation of Residual Fisheries
Impacts
10.8.1 As described in Section 10.5, in the absence of
mitigation measure, low to moderate indirect impacts,
including bund stability, deterioration of water quality and blockage of
access, may arise from the construction phase of the Project. However, with the
implementation of the proposed mitigation measures and good site practices
listed in Section 10.7, unacceptable adverse impacts on fisheries are
not expected to arise during the construction phase. Hence, residual
impact on water quality deterioration is not anticipated from the Project upon
the implementation of the proposed mitigation measures.
10.9
Environmental Monitoring and Audit
10.9.1 With the implementation of mitigation and
precautionary measures proposed in Section 5, potential water quality
impacts arising from the Project would be minimised.
No specific EM&A programme is required for the
potential water quality impact in association with fisheries impact. The
monitoring and audit requirement have been covered by the EM&A programme for potential water quality impact recommended in
Section 5.
10.10 Conclusion
10.10.1 Fisheries impact assessment based on the existing available
information and site inspections on pond culture fisheries resources and
activities within the assessment area have been undertaken, following the
criteria and guidelines as stated in Annexes 9 and 17 of the EIAO-TM, and the
requirements in the EIA Study Brief (ESB-363/2023).
10.10.2 Key fisheries resources within the assessment area
include active fishponds situated at the southeastern and eastern part of the
assessment area near the NTMWTW. Quite a number of
the active fishponds in the assessment area were found to be utilised by non-edible ornamental fish cultivation such as
Koi. Some inactive and abandoned fishponds were identified along both
sides of NTMDC and Yau Tam Mei Tsuen within the Project Site. On the
other hand, clusters of fishponds, including inactive and abandoned fishponds,
were recorded at the northwest of the assessment area near Yau Mei San Tsuen
and at the southwest near Man Yuen Chuen.
10.10.3 Under the conservative approach, permanent loss of
potential fisheries resources, including 4.08 ha active fishponds, 0.86 ha
inactive fishponds and 2.41 ha abandoned fishponds, is anticipated under the
Project. These active, inactive and abandoned fishponds comprising about
0.4%, less than 0.1% and 0.2% of fishponds areas in Hong Kong
respectively. The area involved is considered as small in terms of the
overall fishpond areas in Hong Kong (i.e. less than 1% in total) and quite a number of the active fishponds were utilised
for non-edible ornamental fish cultivation. The fisheries
impact arising from the Project is therefore considered to be low.
10.10.4 Upon the implementation of recommended mitigation
measures, no adverse impact on fisheries resources is anticipated from the
construction and operational phase of the Project.
10.11 References
12.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Department (AFCD). (2024c). AFCD Accredited Fish Farm Scheme – Registered Fish
Farms. Available at https://www.hkaffs.org/english/index.html
(Accessed in June 2024).
13.
Asia King Development Limited (2015). EIA
Report for Development and Wetland Protection near Yau Mei San Tsuen (Register
No.: AEIAR-189/2015). Prepared by ENVIRON Hong Kong Limited.
14.
Capital Chance Limited (2013). EIA Report
for Proposed Residential Cum Passive Recreation Development within
"Recreation" Zone and "Residential (Group C)" Zone at
Various Lots in DD 104, Yuen Long, N.T (Register No.: AEIAR-182/2014). Prepared
by ENVIRON Hong Kong Limited.
15.
Civil Engineering and Development
Department (CEDD) (2024). EIA Report for San Tin / Lok Ma Chau
Development Node (Register No.: AEIAR-261/2024). Prepared by AECOM Asia Company
Limited.
16.
Glory Queen Limited (2016). EIA Report for Proposed Low-rise and Low-density Residential
Development at Various Lots and their Adjoining Government Land in D.D. 104,
East of Kam Pok Road, Mai Po, Yuen Long. New Territories (Register No.:
AEIAR-205/2017). Prepared by Ramboll Environ Hong Kong Limited.
17.
MTR Corporation Limited (2023). EIA
Report for Northern Link (Register No.: AEIAR-259/2024). Prepared by AECOM Asia
Company Limited.
18.
Water Supplies Department (WSD) (2024).
EIA Report for Ngau Tam Mei Water Treatment Works Extension (Register No.:
AEIAR-262/2024). Prepared by Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd.