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Background
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© Martin Harvey / WWF Hong Kong |
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In 2007, WWF Hong Kong commenced an experimental eco-fish farming scheme to encourage fishpond farmers around the Deep Bay area to continue using traditional pond-fish farming practices and to follow the principle of sustainable use and development. This initiative aims to promote "wise use" of fishpond wetlands to effectively conserve wildlife in the Deep Bay area and create economic benefits for fishpond farmers, so that members of the public and future generations can continue to enjoy and appreciate this valuable wildlife asset.
Vision
We hope local fishpond farmers carry on their business using management practices that can enhance wildlife conservation, have minimal impact on the environment and produce aquaculture products that meet high safety standards. The production of high quality ecologically-friendly fish is expected to generate higher returns for fishpond farmers and simultaneously meet the community’s demand for more "green" and safe food products. Eco-fish farming has potential to revive this dying industry and help move it forward in a sustainable manner, to conserve the traditional values of the Deep Bay fishponds including their ecological importance, culture significance and social functionality.
Principles
The eco-fish farming practices aim to strike a balance between three major components within the sustainable use and development model:
- Conservation of fishponds – protect relevant ecosystems so that wildlife can continue to use fishpond wetland habitats;
- Economic considerations – support the livelihood of fishpond farmers and attract newcomers, especially the next generation, to join this industry; and
- Social needs – produce fish products that are healthy and safe for consumption to meet the community’s demand for more "green" foodstuffs.
The Premium Value of Eco-fish
Through transforming the three captioned components into the premium value of Eco-fish, fishpond farmers should receive higher economic returns as an incentive to continue the eco-friendly fishpond management practices and eventually the scheme should become economically self-sustainable. Eco-fish is tasty, natural, healthy and safe for consumption. Most importantly the cultivating practices of Eco-fish will have no harmful impact to the fishpond environment and also help conserve ecologically important wetland habitat for wildlife.
Good Pond Fish Farming Practices (GPFFP)
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© Tobi Lau |
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The premium value of Eco-fish is measured following the Good Pond Fish Farming Practices, which is referenced to the organic definitions set by the Department of Agriculture of the United States as well as other fishpond cultivation and management practices which are environmentally friendly and ecologically sensitive. Project staff conduct checks at the fishponds to ensure the management practices are effectively implemented.
Product Monitoring and Testing
All Eco-fish will go through monitoring and laboratory testing throughout the entire cultivation process to ensure that the fish produced are suitable for human consumption. Further testing is also done prior to sale in the market. The following parameters are tested:
- Heavy metal contents including fish tissues (early and mid-cultivating stages), sediment (early cultivating stage) and fish feed (early cultivating stage)
- Persistent Organic Pollutants including fish tissues (early cultivating stage), sediment (early cultivating stage) and fish feed (early cultivating stages)
- Bacteria mainly water (harvesting stage)
- Chemicals mainly fish tissues (early cultivating and harvesting stages)
Eco-fish feed
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Only chemical-free or non-genetically modified foodstuffs are used as fish feed by fishpond farmers
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© Tobi Lau |
Sustainable fish fry
All fish fry come from sustainable sources, including hatcheries
Fish species
Grey Mullet, Grass Carp and Bighead Carp
Sales price
$45 per fish/pack around 1 catty in weight (Price is subject to change upon market response)
Product name
The Eco-fish
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© Tobi Lau |
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Sales points
Working partners
- Mr. Lai Loi Chau, Lai Chau Fish Farm
- Yeungs Marine Products Ltd.
Contact
fishpond@wwf.org.hk
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