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Lana Lam

Rogue fishermen are flouting the city's year-old trawling ban because the fines are so low that it makes breaking the law worth their while, according to marine activists.
Seven people have been prosecuted for flouting the ban since it came into force on December 31 in a bid to help fish stocks recover in over-fished areas.
But Gary Stokes from conservation group Sea Shepherd said that the guilty fishermen left court with "disgraceful" fines of between just HK$2,000 and HK$4,100, despite the law on illegal trawling allowing for fines of up to HK$200,000 and six months in jail.
"Those amounts are nothing and not a deterrent at all, especially if the poachers can easily get HK$30,000 to HK$40,000 worth of fish," he said yesterday.
Stokes, who has staked out areas overnight for the past few months in a bid to catch illegal poachers, tipped off marine police last Tuesday after he came across a case of alleged "pair trawling" - where two boats drag a net between their vessels to catch fish.
The incident, near the Soko Islands has prompted a new investigation into illegal trawling by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).
The alleged incident was the first Stokes had witnessed since he began his anti-poaching vigil. "It was a surprise when I saw this, because it was so brazen," he said.
"When you've got a whole pantry of fish waiting for you, it's too tempting for poachers."
Marine police confirmed that they pursued the two boats after Stokes raised the alarm, and that both vessels were from Hong Kong. The case is now being handled by the AFCD.
Since the ban, the fisheries department has carried out 13 joint operations with the marine police, a spokeswoman said.
"As always, we will spare no efforts in tackling illegal trawling activities to which we attach great importance," she added.
The seven successful prosecutions concerned fishing in the eastern and southern marine areas of Hong Kong, she said


Marine activists say fines for breaching trawling ban are too low

A Marine Police crew intercept a trawler that has been operating illegally in waters just east of the Soko Islands. Photo: Sea Shepherd

Since the ban, the fisheries department has carried out 13 joint operations with the marine police.

Seven-month-old trawling ban seen as a saviour of the seas

Fishing boats in Aberdeen harbour. Photo: Felix Wong

Trawling ban means end of an era for Hong Kong's fishermen

Keung Pak-ho is calling it a day after fishing in Hong Kong waters for 40 years. Photo: Edward Wong

Keung Pak-ho (right) helps to empty a net on one of his daily trips out of Tolo Harbour. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Fishermen, green groups sceptical about trawling ban

Trawler fishermen hoist their messages in Victoria Harbour yesterday, demanding adequate compensation. The protest started at Cyberport and ended in Central. Photo: Nora Tam

At least seven local fishermen are seeking government loans to build bigger trawlers so that they can head further out to sea. Photo: Edward Wong

News

Hong Kong

Marine activists say the law to help replenish fish stocks is being flouted


Rogue fishermen are flouting the city's year-old trawling ban because the fines are so low that it makes breaking the law worth their while, according to marine activists. Seven people have been prosecuted for flouting the ban since it came into force on December 31 in a bid to help fish stocks recover in over-fished areas.
