Fisheries Opportunities
With the exclusion of all fishing vessels within the wind farm area, losses primarily of highly
resilient species and juvenile fish from trawling and other non-trawling fishing activity will cease.
Given the nature of the Project and proposed management of the study area, the Project Area could
potentially be available for the management and enhancement of fisheries resources.
Based on the evidence presented, it is expected that the marine foundation structures will offer a
cumulative surface area of >100,000 m2. This area would be available as an artificial reef
substrate for colonisation by epibenthic flora and fauna, including communities of corals similar to
those found at the offshore oil and gas platforms in the South China Sea to the south of the
proposed wind farm. Species with a preference for low light and low / medium current speeds such
as the black coral Cirripathes sp. could also colonise the foundation structures.
Once the artificial reef systems begin to develop, natural (unaided) spawning / nursery area are
likely to become naturally established. Assisted spawning / nursery areas may also be achieved
through manual stocking of fry and larvae in the wind farm area to supplement naturally recovering
fisheries resources.
Overall the proposed wind farm project and the proposed restrictions on fishing activity in the wind
farm area provide an opportunity to replenish the heavily exploited fisheries resources in Eastern
Waters. Establishment of artificial reef communities on marine foundations will benefit the overall
abundance and diversity of fisheries resources, and will provide a test case for further large scale
fisheries protection and sustainable fisheries management in the HKSAR.
With the exclusion of all fishing vessels within the wind farm area, losses primarily of highly
resilient species and juvenile fish from trawling and other non-trawling fishing activity will cease.
Given the nature of the Project and proposed management of the study area, the Project Area could
potentially be available for the management and enhancement of fisheries resources.
Based on the evidence presented, it is expected that the marine foundation structures will offer a
cumulative surface area of >100,000 m2. This area would be available as an artificial reef
substrate for colonisation by epibenthic flora and fauna, including communities of corals similar to
those found at the offshore oil and gas platforms in the South China Sea to the south of the
proposed wind farm. Species with a preference for low light and low / medium current speeds such
as the black coral Cirripathes sp. could also colonise the foundation structures.
Once the artificial reef systems begin to develop, natural (unaided) spawning / nursery area are
likely to become naturally established. Assisted spawning / nursery areas may also be achieved
through manual stocking of fry and larvae in the wind farm area to supplement naturally recovering
fisheries resources.
Overall the proposed wind farm project and the proposed restrictions on fishing activity in the wind
farm area provide an opportunity to replenish the heavily exploited fisheries resources in Eastern
Waters. Establishment of artificial reef communities on marine foundations will benefit the overall
abundance and diversity of fisheries resources, and will provide a test case for further large scale
fisheries protection and sustainable fisheries management in the HKSAR.
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Source: Asiatic Marine
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