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Further relief will be provided to local mariculturists and pond fish farmers suffering fish losses caused by the cold spell from late January to mid February, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (March 12).
"To provide urgent assistance to the fish farmers affected by the long cold spell, we have made prompt arrangements for disbursement of primary producer grants from the Emergency Relief Fund (ERF)," the spokesman said.
The AFCD has received 803 applications from mariculturists and 98 from pond fish farmers. A total of $1.6 million has been released and the department is processing the remaining applications.
"In view of the severity of the event, having obtained the consent of the ERF Committee, the AFCD will provide further relief to the affected fish farmers. A special grant under the ERF up to a maximum of $3,940 for mariculturists and $3,774 for pond fish farmers will be made," the spokesman said.
The special grants will be released to approved applicants for primary producer grants. Fish farmers who have submitted their applications do not have to register with AFCD again.
Those who have not yet registered should call 2150 7108 (for mariculturists) or 2471 9145 (for pond fish farmers) no later than Friday (March 14) for final registration.
Ends/Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:28
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