Development
of Organic Waste Treatment Facilities, Phase 2
Environmental Impact
Assessment Report
Chapter Title
Figures
Figure 9.1 Study Area
for Fisheries Impact Assessment
This section presents an assessment of the
potential fisheries impact associated with the construction and operation phases
of the Project, in accordance with the technical requirements stated in section
3.4.9 of the EIA Study Brief (ESB-226/2011).
Aquaculture resources and pond culture
activities have been assessed in this section. Prediction of potential impact
on any active or abandoned fishponds has been addressed.
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, section 3.4.9 and Appendix G of the EIA Study Brief.
The Study Area for the
assessment includes all areas within
500m of the boundaries of the Project,
both active and abandoned fish ponds present in these areas and any other areas with fish ponds and associated water system likely to be
impacted by the construction or operation of the Project, as stipulated in section 3.4.9 of the EIA Study Brief and shown in Figure 9.1.
Available 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Area including both published and unpublished materials was reviewed.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 fish ponds
was conducted in March 2012 along with the habitat surveys
for ecological impact assessment purposes. The status of fish ponds 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.
In Hong Kong, pond
fish culture resources and activities are mainly located in the north-west New
Territories (NWNT) area, with freshwater and brackish fishponds. Pond fish
species are reared for commercial purpose. According to the latest available
information from Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) on aquaculture
activities in Hong Kong in 2012, the local inland ponds covered an area of
approximately 1,150 ha and produced 2,306 tonnes of freshwater fishes. About 98%
of the fish farms are engaged in polyculture (bighead
carp, grass carp, common carp and silver carp in combination with
tilapia or grey mullet). The remaining 2% practise monoculture of
carnivorous species such as giant groupers, seabreams
and spotted scat in brackish fishponds near to the coastline.
Within the Study Area, there is no indication of the presence of any commercial fish culture activities. Neither commercial-scale fish ponds nor adjoining fish ponds are observed within the Study Area. Instead of pond culture fisheries, the central-north area of New Territories where the Project locates is used for village and agricultural purposes.
It has been
initially identified by ground truthing that only four ponds can be found within the Study Area, as indicated in Figure 9.1.
By interviewing the residents and
workers, the uses of the identified ponds are described as follow:
¡ Pond PD1 was abandoned and currently used
for recreational purpose by site workers nearby.
¡ Pond PD2 is an abandoned
irrigation pond formerly used for cultivation.
¡ Pond PD3 is privately used for recreational
purpose by the residents.
¡ Pond PD4 is used as fung shui pond for keeping ornamental fish species.
No active or
abandoned commercial fish pond has been identified within the Study Area. There is no indication of any commercial pond
fish culture resources or activities within the Study Area.
As indicated in Figure 9.1, there is no active or abandoned pond
within the Project Area. The Project will be constructed and
operated within the defined
Project Area. Therefore, no
direct impact (such as permanent resumption or temporary occupation) on any
active or abandoned pond is identified.
The Project site
will be accessed from a connection with Kong Nga Po Road without passing any
area surrounding the identified ponds. Both construction and operation
activities will be localised within the defined Project Area. Any indirect
impact on the identified ponds regarding blockage of access to the ponds is not
anticipated.
Indirect impacts including
seepage of surface run-off and sewage
discharged during construction
and operation phase of the Project may
occur on the identified ponds,
which are located at the downhill side of the Project Area. However, with proper implementation of good site practice and appropriate
mitigation measures to minimise impact
on water quality (see Section 6), significant indirect impacts arising from the Project on the identified ponds are not anticipated.
With water quality control
measures in place (see Section 6), the Project is
unlikely to have any indirect
impact on the pond fish culture resources or activities in the Study
Area. Therefore, no fisheries-specific mitigation measure is considered necessary.
Commercial pond
fish culture resources or
activities were not identified within
the Study Area. With water quality
control measures in place (see Section 6), any
indirect impact on the pond fish culture resources or activities in the Study
Area due to the Project is unlikely. Therefore, no residual fisheries impact is
anticipated.
Commercial pond fish culture resources or activities were not identified within the Study Area. With water quality control measures in place (see Section 6), the Project is unlikely to cause any direct or indirect impacts on the pond fish culture resources or activities in the Study Area. Therefore, no monitoring and audit programme or requirement for fisheries impact is considered necessary.
Baseline review and ground truthing conducted for fisheries impact assessment have identified no commercial pond fish culture resources or activities within the Study Area. With recommended water quality control measures and good site practice in place (see Section 6), the Project is unlikely to have any direct or indirect impacts on the existing ponds or related activities within the Study Area. Therefore, no fisheries impact arising from construction and operation of the Project is anticipated and no fisheries-specific mitigation measures are required.
AFCD. (2013). Marine fish culture, pond fish culture and oyster culture. Retrieved August 22, 2013, from http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/fish_aqu/fish_aqu_mpo/fish_aqu_mpo.html