Seafood prices fell by up to a third yesterday following the ending of a two-month fishing ban in the South China Sea.
The mainland Agriculture Ministry imposed the ban to replenish dwindling stocks which had become depleted due to overfishing and illegal fishing methods.
A $65 million loan was granted to 1,350 fishermen to help them through the period.
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong legislator Tam Yiu-chung, who accompanied fishermen back to the South China Sea over the weekend, described their catch as 'splendid'.
Fish stall vendors at Mongkok market said the increase in seafood supplies allowed them to lower prices, in some cases by as much as a third. 'There is an increase in terms of quantity and quality. But we need to wait for a week or so to see the long-term effect as the fishing ban was just lifted,' said Keung Wan-kin, 40, vendor at the Man Fat Fish Stall.
Seafood restaurants said they would have special offers for customers because of the increased supply.
'We started to offer Tungsing garoupa at a discounted price today, as we have received good stocks from local fishermen,' the manager of the Hanpo Restaurant in King's Road, North Point, said.
