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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has extended the registration period for a week for local mariculturists and pond fish farmers suffering fish losses caused by the recent cold weather to apply for a grant from the Emergency Relief Fund following the persistence of low water temperature and mortality of cultured fish.
The new deadline is March 4 (Tuesday).
A department spokesman said today (February 27) that a grant from the relief fund would be made to affected mariculturists and pond fish farmers according to established criteria.
The department’s investigation has indicated that 24 fish culture zones and some fish ponds in Nam San Wai, Mai Po, San Tin and Ma Tso Lung have been affected by the recent cold weather.
"The assistance is intended to provide some relief to affected mariculturists and pond fish farmers," the spokesman said.
The department has received 791 and 84 applications from mariculturists and pond fish farmers respectively since the registration began last week. The department has started releasing grants to some of the applicants and is processing the remaining applications.
Mariculturists and pond fish farmers who have not yet registered should visit the following offices from today to March 4 for registration:
Mariculture
Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 8/F, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon. (Enquiry hotline: 2150 7108)
Pond Fish Culture
Au Tau Fisheries Office: 27 Milestone, Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long
(Enquiry hotline: 2471 9145)
Ends/Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:39
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