Two fishing vessels set sail on Thursday, a milestone in the authorities’ push to promote leisure fisheries.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced at a launch ceremony held at the Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market that its “Fish enJoy” initiative, designed to encourage mariculture rafts and fish farms to provide leisure activities, will be extended to fishing vessels for a 12-month pilot project. The initiative began in September 2025.
Mariculture refers to the farming of marine organisms for food and other products such as pharmaceuticals, food additives, jewelry, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, either in the natural marine environment or in land- or sea-based enclosures.
The two pilot vessels, which are 24 meters and 15 meters long, have received funding of HK$350,000 ($44,613) and HK$200,000 respectively from the Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund. The money supports modifications to allow the vessels to carry ordinary passengers at sea, with retrofits focused on essential safety measures including seating, life-saving equipment and firefighting tools.
The vessels will begin operations soon and provide tours for families, schools and corporates to experience leisure fisheries. The cost is expected to range from HK$500 to HK$600 per person, according to the authorities.
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Speaking at the launch ceremony, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said the project shows the government’s commitment to help the fishing community explore new business opportunities.
Under current laws, licensed fishing vessels are restricted to fishing operations and cannot carry ordinary passengers. Tse said the AFCD and the Marine Deparmtent collaborated to address technical issues related to equipment, license and insurance arrangements. Meanwhile, shipowners received government funding in March to carry out alterations.
“Ensuring safety is the primary principle,” Tse said, adding that vessels operating under this dual-purpose mode allow fishermen to boost their incomes while offering visitors an “all-round immersive experience of Hong Kong'’s fisheries culture” through leisure fishing, on-board seafood tasting, and seafood market tours.
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Joanne Lee On-on, senior fisheries officer overseeing fisheries management at the AFCD, said the pilot vessels will operate under temporary regulatory exemptions to test market viability, with over 1,000 participants expected during the trial period.
Lam Kong-hei, senior surveyor of ships and local vessels safety at the Marine Department, said pilot vessels must meet specific standards, such as fiberglass hull construction and cabin height requirements. Operators and crew members are required to complete a one-day training course in crisis response and crowd control, he added.
The original Fish enJoy program allows mariculture rafts and inland fish farms to operate ancillary businesses. Approved activities include leisure fishing, on-farm sales of self-cultured fisheries products, non-flame-cooked food sales, and fisheries education experiences such as guided tours and workshops.
As of Oct 31, 76 eligible fish farms had joined the program, according to the AFCD.
Contact the writer at hazelwong@chinadailyhk.com
