Last year's "Policy Address" proposed the development of the northern metropolitan area, and proposed to recover private wetlands and fish ponds and set up wetland conservation parks.
The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, an environmental group, interviewed fishermen in Deep Bay and found that more than half of the fishermen surveyed agreed with the government's land reclamation and conservation, and 90% were interested in continuing to farm fish in the area after the government's land resumption.
However, the Bird Watching Association pointed out that after the announcement of the proposal to develop the northern metropolitan area, some individual fishermen were greatly increased by the landlord, with the annual rent increasing from 40,000 yuan to 70,000 yuan. Renewing the lease of fish ponds will threaten the ecological value of fish pond wetlands.
The Bird Watching Society recommends that the government announce and implement the wetland conservation park plan as soon as possible, and include consideration of the conservation status in the compensation for land resumption.
▼Site selection of three wetland conservation parks▼
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57% of the fishermen surveyed agree with the government's land reclamation and conservation
From February to March this year, the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society selected 63 Deep Bay fishermen who were eligible to participate in the conservation project and conducted a questionnaire survey by telephone and interview.
Among the fishermen interviewed, 90% are fish pond tenants, who manage a total of about 300 hectares of fish ponds in Deep Bay.
According to the survey results, 57% of the fishermen surveyed are in favor of the government's land reclamation and conservation, while 24% are against it.
Most of the fishermen who are in favor hope that they can continue to raise fish in the future; those who oppose are worried that they will not be able to raise fish after the land is acquired, or advocate that the land should be used for development, housing or other purposes.
In terms of management mode, 52% of fishermen hope to rent fish ponds from the government and take care of their own profits and losses, while 27% choose to be employed by the government or other organizations.
The Bird Watching Association said that many fishermen have concerns about the conservation plan in the northern metropolitan area. Some fishermen who rented private land or ancestral land reported that the annual rent of individual fish ponds even soared to more than 70,000 yuan.
There are also fishermen who think that "raising fish can't get enough food, it seems like a waste of money, and they feel that the industry has no future", so they do not renew the lease.
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Hu Mingchuan, deputy director of the Bird Watching Association, believes that the survey reflects that the impact of the northern metropolitan area on fishermen and the ecological environment has begun to emerge.
Hu believes that the fishermen could not grasp the details such as the timetable and scope of land resumption, making it difficult to make long-term breeding plans, and may therefore give up operating fish ponds.
Individual landlords also have the opportunity to change the use of fish ponds, or even increase rents substantially to force out tenants.
Hu Mingchuan suggested that the government announce the conservation timetable for the northern metropolitan area as soon as possible and consult stakeholders including fishermen.
She also urged the government to consider the conservation element in the compensation mechanism for land resumption.
She explained that if the fish ponds meet the specified conditions, such as natural sloping ponds, regular rainfall for birds to feed, and no sparrow traps, etc., the government can provide additional compensation for land acquisition to encourage landlords and fishermen to preserve fish ponds Wetland ecological value.
Hu Mingchuan (right) believes that the survey reflects that the impact of the northern metropolitan area on fishermen and the ecological environment has begun to emerge.
On the left is Zhong Zhenjie, the project manager of the Bird Watching Association.
(Provided by Hong Kong Bird Watching Society)
Northern Metropolitan Area｜The first phase of Yuen Long South Development has received 379 pieces of private land. The government will post an announcement today to take back the Northern Metropolitan Area in August. The current government explores planning and research on the northern metropolis | In the next few years, 700 hectares of private land will be acquired in the Yuen Long North District, and there is no intention to build a building. The northern metropolitan area of the district｜WWF advocates the expansion of the wetland coverage of the Deep Bay 3 The proposed wetland park is planned for overall planning