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Andrea Chen

Hong Kong people should avoid consuming golden threadfin bream, whose population has dropped by 30 per cent in the past 10 years, conservation group WWF Hong Kong has urged.
The call came as the group launched its "Seafood Guidebook 2013" yesterday.

The brochure divides more than 70 types of seafood available in Hong Kong into three categories, "green - recommended", "yellow - think twice" and "red - avoid".
The number of species in the "red" category has increased from 23 to 32 since the WWF's previous guidebook in 2007.
Many types of fish popular with Chinese diners, including yellow croaker, shrimp, cuttlefish, squid and golden threadfin bream, now fall into that category, which means consumption will add stress to the marine ecosystems.
The golden threadfin bream is one of the 12 species that moved from the "think twice" category to "avoid".
"The fish is part of Hong Kong history. People used to consume it a lot," said C. W. Cheung, head of WWF's Footprint Programme.
He said the fish were often captured when they were still young, which worsened the effect on marine resources.
"In the past, where two fish were enough, now you'll need five," Cheung said.
Due to the sharp decline in the population of the golden threadfin bream, its wholesale price has nearly doubled over the past three years. According to the Fish Marketing Organisation, the average wholesale price was HK$80.86 per kg, up HK$40 from the average in October 2010.
Fishmonger Poon Yuiban sells bream at HK$112 per kg at the wet market in Wan Chai. The price used to be about HK$64 per kg 10 years ago, he said.
Chan Tai-hing, a fresh seafood retailer at the market, said the fish was once much cheaper than other species, which accounted for its popularity with Hong Kong people. "But now it is as expensive as everything else", Chan said.
Despite the higher price, golden threadfin bream remains a popular purchase.
Shopper Au Mui Wua spent HK$20 on the fish. "It used to be around HK$10 [for a fish] a couple of years ago. But everything is more and more expensive these days," said Au, who liked the fish for its sweet, soft meat.
The government has not listed the bream as an endangered marine species, following the practice of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Only one species in the "red" category, the humphead wrasse, is listed in Cites.
 


Popular golden threadfin bream grows scarce and pricey

Golden threadfin bream now sells for about HK$80.86 per kg, double the price it sold for a decade ago. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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