Q Is the two-month fishing ban the best way to protect stocks?
We cannot believe that the government is now thinking of abandoning the proposed moratorium on fishing in Hong Kong waters.
It is now proposing to obtain fishermen's support for a licensing system in order to gain a better understanding of how many and what types of fishing boats are active in our waters. How sad that common sense will not prevail in this instance.
Surely both the fishermen and the government realise the size of the catches in our waters has diminished to the point where the only use for whatever is caught is as food for the fish farms. Both these communities know what has been the consequences of excessive fishing and poor fishery management over the past decades.
If they are unable to do so, then look at what happened to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. We hope this is not another example of mere lip service to the conservation messages contained in our chief executive's policy address.
The government has a responsibility to the present generation and future generations of Hong Kong fishermen and the community at large to institute appropriate steps now to avoid irreparable damage. Time is running out.
Eric Bohm, WWF Hong Kong