8 Fisheries Impact Assessment

8.1 Introduction

This Section presents the findings of an impact assessment on existing pond fish culture resources within the Study Area which is defined as 500 km from the boundary of the Project Site from construction and operation of the Project.

This fisheries impact assessment covers the scope outlined in Section 3.4.9 of the EIA Study Brief (No. ESB-200/2009).

8.2 Relevant Legislation and Guidelines

The criteria for evaluating fisheries impacts are listed in the Technical Memorandum on EIA Process (EIAO-TM). Annex 17 prescribes the general approach and methodology for the assessment of fisheries impacts. Annex 9 details the criteria that are to be used for evaluating impacts.

Other legislation which applies to fisheries includes the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap 171) 1987, provides for the conservation of fish and other aquatic life and regulates fishing practices.

8.3 Study Area and Sensitive Receivers

8.3.1 Assessment Methodology

The EIA Study Brief has defined the Study Area as all areas within 500 m distance on either side and along the full length of the boundary of the Project Site, and any other surrounding areas with fishponds and associated water system(s) which are likely to be impacted by the construction and operation of the Project.

A desktop review was conducted to examine the existing fisheries baseline conditions. The most recent and up-to-date baseline fisheries information on or near the Study Area is from Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). As no specific literature or study has been published on the fisheries resources or activities of the fishponds located within the vicinity of Study Area, any pond-like structures were first identified from aerial photographs (2008 version, Lands Department), with ground truthing field visits conducted from August 2009 to January 2010 to verify and assess the conditions of the ponds: whether the identified ponds were still active, abandoned or have been filled in and developed. The information presented in the following sections has been based on the findings of literature review and the field visits.

8.3.2 Baseline Conditions and Fisheries Sensitive Receivers

In Hong Kong, aquaculture comprises capture fisheries, mariculture and pond fish culture. As only fishponds are found within the Study Area, this section only covers and assesses the potential impacts which the construction and operation of the Project may bring to the pond fish culture.

Fisheries sensitive receivers in the Study Area comprise both active and abandoned fishponds. A total of one active (estimated size = 0.2 ha) and three abandoned (total estimated size = 0.4 ha) inland fishponds have been identified within the 500 m Study Area through aerial photographs and field visits.

The active pond is located at the eastern end of the Study Area, about 340 m away from the Project Site boundary. Field visits revealed the pond appeared to be actively managed as it was full of water, with managed pond bund and fenced for the duration of the study period. The remaining three inactive fishponds scattered at the eastern and middle parts of the Study Area. They showed signs of neglect and abandonment with an obvious lack of vegetation management at the bunds, of which, two ponds were found overgrown by vegetation. The locations of all the fishponds in the Study Area are presented in Figure 8.1. Representative photograph of the active pond is also illustrated in Figure 8.1.

It should be noted that no other designated or recognised sites of fisheries importance lie in close proximity to or within the fisheries assessment area of this Project (see Figure 8.2).

In Hong Kong, most inland ponds are located in the northwest New Territories. Information provided by AFCD in 2009 ([1]) indicated that most of the local inland ponds engaged in polyculture and farmed freshwater fish species such as bighead carp, grass carp, common carp and silver carp in combination with tilapia or grey mullet. Some of the fishponds practiced monoculture of carnivorous species such as giant groupers, seabreams and spotted scat in brackish fishponds near to the coastline.

8.4 Potential Environmental Impacts to Fisheries

8.4.1 Construction Phase

No direct impact (ie direct loss of pond) will result from the Project during the construction phase as the ponds are located at least 50 m away from the Project Site boundary (the active fishpond is located about 340 m away from the Project Site boundary). Although some of the abandoned fish ponds were located downstream to Work Areas I and II, however, water from Shenzhen River will not intrude into any ponds and therefore, no negative impact to the condition of the abandoned ponds is expected. Thus, indirect impacts to the fishponds arising from the construction stage of the Project are also not expected.

8.4.2 Operation Phase

No disturbance to the fishpond culture or deterioration of the fishpond water quality during the operation phase will be anticipated. Therefore, no direct or indirect impacts to fishponds would arise during this stage.

8.4.3 Cumulative impacts

As no direct or indirect impact is expected from the construction and operation of the Project, no cumulative impact is anticipated to the fishponds within the Study Area.

8.4.4 Impact Evaluation

No direct loss of fishponds will be resulted from the Project as they are all located at least 50 m away from the Project Site boundary (the active fishpond is located about 340 m away from the Project Site boundary). Although some of the abandoned fish ponds were located downstream to Work Areas I and II, however, water from Shenzhen River will not intrude into any ponds and therefore, no negative impact to the condition of the abandoned ponds is expected.

Potential impacts to the pond fish culture within the Study Area are evaluated based on the Criteria for Evaluation Fisheries Impact according to Annex 9 of the EIAO-TM and are presented in Table 4.1.

Table 4.1 Evaluation of Impacts to Fisheries

Criteria	Evaluation
Nature of Impact	No direct or indirect impacts would be resulted from construction and operation of the Project.
Size of Affected Area	N/A
Loss of Fisheries Resources/ Production	No loss of pond culture fisheries resources is expected.
Destruction and Disturbance of Nursery and Spawning Grounds	No impact is expected to occur in nursery or spawning ground.
Impact on Fishing Activity	N/A
Impact on Aquaculture Activity	N/A
Overall Impact Conclusion	No Impact is expected to occur

8.5 Mitigation Measures

In accordance with the guidelines outlined in the EIAO-TM on fisheries impact assessment the general policy approaches for mitigating impacts to fisheries, including pond fish culture are, in order of priority, avoidance, minimisation and compensation.

As the proposed construction and operation of the Project are not predicted to have any adverse impact on pond fish culture in the Study Area, no fisheries-species mitigation measures are required.

8.6 Residual Impacts

There are no residual impacts expected to occur to pond fish culture as a result of the construction and operation of the Project.

8.7 Environmental Monitoring and Auditing

No impacts to pond fish culture are expected to occur as a result of the construction and operation of the Project, therefore, the development and implementation of a monitoring and audit programme designed to assess the effects of the activities on pond culture fish resources is not deemed necessary.

8.8 Conclusion

A total of one active fishpond and three abandoned fishponds were identified within the 500 m Study Area of the Project Site. No direct or indirect negative impacts on the pond fish culture resources are anticipated during the construction or operation of the Project.