Section Title Page
This
section presents the assessment of the potential fisheries impacts associated
with the construction and operation phases of the proposed BCP and associated
facilities, in accordance with section
3.4.10 of the EIA Study Brief (ESB-199/2008).
Aquaculture resources and pond culture activities
have been assessed in this section. Prediction of potential impacts on any
active or abandoned fishponds has been addressed.
10.2
Environmental Legislation, Standards and
Guidelines
The
following legislation and guidelines are applicable to the fisheries impact
assessment in
¡
Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499)
– Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process
(EIAO-TM),
Annexes 9 and 17.
¡
Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171).
The fisheries impact assessment was
undertaken following the criteria and guidelines as specified in Annexes 9 and
17 of the EIAO-TM and section 3.4.10 of the EIA Study Brief. The Study Area for
assessment includes the active and abandoned fishponds within 500m from the boundaries
of the Project and any areas likely to be impacted by the construction or
operation of the Project, as stipulated in clause 3.4.10.2 of the EIA Study
Brief.
Literature regarding the activities and
production of pond fish culture within the Study Area including both published
and unpublished materials was reviewed. Ground truthing on the status of any
fishponds was conducted between March and June 2010 along with the habitat
surveys for ecological impact assessment purposes. The status of fishponds was
evaluated based upon the management conditions of the ponds such as presence of
commercial fishes, evidence of recently used pond culture equipment, presence
of fish-rearing paraphernalia and evidence of trimming of vegetation growing on
pond bund.
10.4.1
Description
of the Environment
In the northeast New Territories (NENT) area
where the Project locates, there is no indication of the presence of any pond
fish culture activities. Neither commercial fishponds nor adjoining fishponds
are found in the NENT area. Instead of pond culture fisheries, the NENT area is
used as agricultural purpose as illustrated in the zoning of land uses for the
Study Area in Figures 11.4.0 to 11.4.6.
Other areas with fish ponds and associated water
systems that may be indirectly impacted by the Project can be found in the
northwest New Territories (NWNT) area, where pond fish culture resources and activities
are located, with freshwater and brackish fishponds. Pond fish species are
reared for commercial purpose. The adjoining fishponds at the NWNT area also form
part of the Wetland Conservation Area and perform ecological functions for
conservation of waterbirds. According to
the latest available information from Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Department (AFCD) on aquaculture activities in
10.4.2
Condition
of Pond Fish Culture Resources and Activities within the Study Area
It has been identified by ground truthing
that only very few ponds can be found within the Study Area. Some of them are abandoned irrigation
ponds formerly used for cultivation.
Some of them are currently used
as fung shui ponds at villages for
keeping ornamental fish species (e.g.
koi), for example, the pond at Loi Tung village. No active or abandoned
fishpond has been identified within the Study Area.
There is no indication of any pond fish
culture resources or activities within the Study Area.
10.5 Identification, Prediction and Evaluation of Environmental Impact
Pond fish culture
resources and activities were not found
within the Study Area. Hence, there is no
indication of any pond fish culture activities in the Study
Area.
With proper implementation of the control
measures for site drainage, surface runoff and sewage discharge during construction
and operational phases of the Project (see Section
5), it is unlikely that there would be any
indirect impact on fish ponds in the
10.6
Mitigation of Adverse Environmental Impact
Pond fish culture resources and activities were not identified within the Study Area. With the effluent control measures in place (see Section 5), the Project is unlikely to have indirect impacts on the pond fish culture resources and activities in the NWNT area. Therefore, no mitigation measures (other than the effluent control measures) are considered necessary.
10.7
Evaluation of Residual Impact
Pond fish culture resources and activities were not identified within the Study Area. With the effluent control measures in place (see Section 5), the Project is unlikely to have indirect impacts on the pond fish culture resources and activities in the NWNT area. Therefore, no residual fisheries impact is anticipated.
10.8
Environmental Monitoring and Audit
Pond fish culture resources and activities were not
identified within the Study
Area. With the effluent control measures in place (see Section 5), the Project is unlikely to have indirect impacts on the
pond fish culture resources and activities in the NWNT area. Therefore, no
monitoring and audit programme for fisheries impact is considered necessary.
The baseline review and ground truthing conducted for fisheries impact assessment have identified no active fishponds, pond fish culture resources or activities within the Study Area. With the effluent control measures in place (see Section 5), the Project is unlikely to have indirect impacts on the pond fish culture resources and activities in the NWNT area. Therefore, no fisheries impact arising from construction and operation of the Project is anticipated and no mitigation measures (other than the effluent control measures) are required.
AFCD. (2010). Marine fish culture, pond fish culture and oyster culture. Retrieved April 9, 2010, from http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/fish_aqu/fish_aqu_mpo/fish_aqu_mpo.html