Buried in Hong Kong's chief executive's recent policy address was news that the government intends to introduce legislation next year to ban trawling in Hong Kong waters.
"Of all the 171 paragraphs in the address announcing all manner of policies, this is the one which is likely to have the most far-reaching effect for Hong Kong's posterity. I have no doubt that it will be remembered as the outstanding contribution of Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's administration to conservation," wrote founding member of Designing Hong Kong and a former Chairman of Worldwide Fund for Nature in Hong Kong, Markus Shaw in the South China Morning Post.
Bottom trawling involves dragging a heavy net along the sea floor and is considered a destructive fishing method, involving habitat destruction, as well as indiscriminate capture and wasteful by-catch.
The banning of bottom trawling is a major step in the long road to recovery for Hong Kong's marine environment, according to Mr. Shaw. Wong Yung-kan, the lawmaker representing agriculture and fisheries, called on the government to introduce a licensing regime for commercial fishermen, which is a crucial measure and a prerequisite of any trawler buyout scheme. It is also crucial to future enforcement.
"In my many interactions with Hong Kong fishermen, a common refrain was the perceived injustice of being told to stop fishing, only for mainland fishermen to come into Hong Kong waters and scoop up what has been left behind," wrote Mr Shaw.
"Many are the policy initiatives announced in the policy address which, in the end, never see the light of day.
"Let us hope that the government will press this one to its conclusion," said Mr Shaw.
"What gives me hope is that, firstly, financial resources have been set aside for buyout schemes and livelihood support for affected fishermen; and secondly, the fishing industry itself seems now to acknowledge the need for effective fisheries management."
