Three-Runway System Environmental Impact Assessment Report 14. Fisheries … · 2014. 6. 19. · 14.2.1.1 The following legislation, standards and guidelines related to capture and

308875/ENL/ENL/03/07/D May 2014 P:\Hong Kong\ENL\PROJECTS\308875 3rd runway\03 Deliverables\07 Final EIA Report\Ch 14 - Fisheries.doc

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Expansion of Hong Kong International Airport into a Three-Runway System Environmental Impact Assessment Report

14.1 Introduction

14.1.1.1 The Fisheries Impact Assessment has been conducted in accordance with the Environmental

Impact Assessment (EIA) Study Brief No. ESB-250/2012 requirements under Clause 3.4.11 and

Appendix G, and the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance

Process (EIAO-TM) Annexes 9 and 17. This chapter has reviewed existing information on

fisheries activities and resources within the study area. The fisheries impact assessment has

addressed potential short-term and long-term impacts on capture and culture fisheries during the

construction and operation phases of the project.

14.2 Relevant Legislation, Standards and Guidelines

14.2.1.1 The following legislation, standards and guidelines related to capture and culture fisheries and

fisheries impact assessment have been adopted in the assessment:

� Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171);

� Marine Fish Culture Ordinance (Cap. 353);

� Marine Parks Ordinance (Cap. 476);

� Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499) and the Technical Memorandum on

Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM);

� Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO) Cap. 358.

14.2.1.2 Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171) – Fishing activities in Hong Kong are governed by the

Fisheries Protection Ordinance, in which destructive fishing practices are prohibited in Hong Kong

waters including the use of explosive, toxic substances, electric-fishing, dredging and suction

devices that damage the seabed. Trawling activities (including pair, stern, shrimp and hang

trawling) have been banned since 31 December 2012 for the protection of fisheries resources

and the marine ecosystem.

14.2.1.3 Marine Fish Culture Ordinance (Cap. 353) – The operation of marine fish culture activities is

regulated by the Marine Fish Culture Ordinance. Culture activities include the provision of rafts or

impoundments, which are located in designated areas under a licensing system.

14.2.1.4 Marine Parks Ordinance (Cap. 476) – The Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park

(SCLKCMP) was designated on 26 November 1996 under the Marine Parks Ordinance (Cap.

476). Fishing activities in SCLKCMP are controlled and regulated through a permit system. Only

fishermen holding valid marine parks fishing permits issued by AFCD can conduct permitted

fishing activities in SCLKCMP.

14.2.1.5 Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM) – The

technical memorandum is issued under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO)

(Cap. 499) Section 16 which sets out the principles, procedures, guidelines, requirements and

14. Fisheries Impact


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criteria for conducting an EIA. Annexes 9 and 17 of the EIAO-TM specify the criteria for

evaluating fisheries impact and provide guidelines for carrying out a fisheries impact assessment.

14.2.1.6 Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO) (Cap. 358) – provides the statutory framework for the

protection and control of water quality in Hong Kong. According to the WPCO and its subsidiary

legislations, Hong Kong waters are divided into 10 Water Control Zones (WCZs). Water Quality

Objectives (WQOs) were established to protect the beneficial uses of water quality in WCZs and

specific WQOs are applied to each WCZ. The WQOs that are relevant to this study are listed in

Tables 8.1 to Table 8.4 of this EIA. The prediction of impacts on fisheries has taken into

consideration the water quality impacts that may arise from the construction and operation of the

project.

14.3 Methodology for Baseline Establishment

14.3.1 Study Area

14.3.1.1 The study area for the fisheries impact assessment is shown in Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-

001 and is the same as that for the water quality impact assessment as stipulated in Clause

3.4.11.2 of the EIA Study Brief. The study area includes the North Western WCZ, North Western

Supplementary WCZ, Deep Bay WCZ and Western Buffer WCZ, as designated under the WPCO

Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/8-001. Water sensitive receivers in the vicinity of the project are

also identified. For this assessment special attention has been given to potential loss or

disturbance of fishing grounds, fisheries habitats, spawning or nursery grounds, aquaculture sites

and artificial reefs (ARs) associated with both the construction and operation of the project.

14.3.1.2 In this assessment, fishing grounds are defined as the sea areas which are available to fishermen

for fishing operations (excluding Hong Kong Principal Fairways, core area within Tung Ping Chau

Marine Park (where all fishing activities are prohibited), Cape D’Aguilar Marine Reserve, and the

Hong Kong International Airport Approach Area (HKIAAA)). Marine parks (not including the core

area as mentioned above) are included within the total available fishing area, as commercial

fishing within these areas is controlled under a permit system operated by the Agriculture,

Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). Fisheries habitats are areas or environment

where fisheries resources normally live or occur. Aquaculture sites include areas where marine

fish culture and oyster culture are conducted, and recognised by the AFCD as such (AFCD,

2014). Artificial reefs are devices used for attracting and supporting large populations of fish,

which provide complex, hard surface habitat in areas where only soft bottom seabed occurs

(Wilson, 2003). Throughout this EIA chapter, abundance refers to the total number of living

organisms (e.g. fish) in a population or on a fishing ground. Biomass is the total weight of a group

(or stock) of living organisms (e.g. fish) or of some defined fraction of it (e.g. spawners), in an

area, at a particular time. Yield is the catch in weight which indicates the amount of production

per unit area over a given time.

14.3.2 Project Area

14.3.2.1 The three-runway system (3RS) project area is shown in Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/4-001

which mainly comprises approximately 650 ha of land formation in the existing marine open

waters and seawall development of approximately 5.9 km immediately north of the Hong Kong

International Airport (HKIA) existing platform in the northern Lantau waters. The project area will

cover a permanent total seabed footprint of approximately 672 ha. Part of the land formation


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footprint overlaps with the existing HKIAAA. Other coastal or marine work areas include the

installation of new approach lights and marker beacons for the new third runway, diversion of the

existing aviation fuel sub-marine pipeline at the Aviation Fuel Receiving Facility (AFRF) in the

Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park (SCLKCMP) and diversion of electricity cables

including minor excavation works at the field joint locations.

14.3.2.2 Seabed within the project footprint comprises of marine sediment and debris formed from natural

sedimentation with the influence of flows from the Pearl River Estuary.

14.3.3 Literature Review

14.3.3.1 A desktop literature review has been carried out to establish the baseline conditions of the

physical environment, to identify information gaps and to determine if fisheries surveys are

required to ascertain fisheries information for subsequent impact assessment. Literature,

including published scientific studies and approved EIAs for projects in the vicinity of the study

area, have been reviewed. Locations of previous studies which deployed fisheries surveys are

shown in Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-002.

14.3.3.2 The proposed land formation works and the future operation of the project may affect the fisheries

resources and fishing operations within the project footprint and adjacent waters. Appendix 14.1

summarises the fisheries resources and activities within the study area and are based on the

literature review of the Port Surveys, other fisheries related reports from AFCD and approved

EIAs. It should be noted that information from the literature review referred to the situation at the

time of the referenced studies. The need for verification and updated fisheries surveys has been

examined to gather adequate information for subsequent fisheries impact prediction and

evaluation, formulation of proposed mitigation measures and monitoring requirements according

to the EIAO-TM Annex 17. Details of literature review are presented in Appendix 14.1.

14.3.4 Fisheries modelling

14.3.4.1 Modelling is gaining popularity in recent years with its potential to take into account species

interactions, flow of energy in the ecosystem and the assessment of anthropogenic impact on the

environment. The feasibility of use of modelling in the present EIA is discussed in the ensuing

paragraphs.

14.3.4.2 Plagányi (2007) provides a comprehensive description and evaluation of the different ecosystem

models for fisheries. Four general model categories were identified, namely whole ecosystem

models, dynamic multi-species models, dynamic system models and extensions of single-species

assessment models. Whole ecosystem models consider all trophic levels in the ecosystem;

dynamic multi-species model focuses on a target species of interest and a restricted number of

species which have significant interactions with the target species; dynamic system model

account for interactions, both bottom-up (physical) and top-down (biological) forces, in an

ecosystem; and some models which expand on existing single-species assessment models by

taking into account a few additional interactions.

14.3.4.3 Only two models, ATLANTIS and INVITRO, are considered appropriate to show potential to

address the effects of habitat modification on fisheries (Plagányi, 2007). ATLANTIS is a type of

dynamic system model. This model is nutrient-pool based, and it encompasses an intricate

exploitation model that takes into account various anthropogenic impacts such as pollution,


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coastal development and broad-scale environmental changes, but at present each of these

factors is presented as part of the ecosystem changes through time instead of as an adaptive

management scenario (Fulton et al., 2011). Data requirements for ATLANTIS include parameters

such as abundance per age class per area, production rates, consumption rates, diet composition

for major functional groups, individual growth rates, length-weight conservation, maximum age

and age-at-maturity, recruitment parameters, general habitat preferences, dispersal and/or

migratory characteristics, sediment or rock type per spatial grid, biogenic habitat, abundance and

catch time series, spatial and fleet-disaggregated harvest rates, nutrient data and climate data

(Plagányi, 2007; NOAA, 2014). It is now being used in Australia and Northern California Current

primarily for the understanding of marine ecosystems (Fulton et al., 2011) rather than projecting

changes in fisheries associated with habitat loss. INVITRO is an agent-based and biomass-pool

based dynamic system model which is spatially explicit (Plagányi, 2007). It is currently used in

northwest Australia to support multiple-use ecosystem-level management. Data requirement for

INVITRO includes physical model data, sediment characteristics, initial biomasses and habitat

map, while only a subgroup of ecosystem which consists of the dominant system components is

accounted for in detail (Plagányi, 2007). This model can be used to simulate the impacts,

activities and management strategies of coastal and urban development. For example, it has

predicted that dredging an extra navigation channel for vessels in responses to increased marine

traffic and collision risk would lead to burying of coral and sponge communities and contribute to

adverse effect on conservation and biodiversity (McDonald et al., 2008). However, both Atlantis

and INVITRO are evaluated to be not suitable for Hong Kong waters due to either their intensive

data requirement (for ATLANTIS), or difficulty in application to the whole ecosystem (for

INVITRO).

14.3.4.4 Sumaila and Cheung (2012) used ECOPATH with ECOSIM, one kind of whole ecosystem

modelling to project future changes in biomass of major functional groups in Hong Kong marine

ecosystems and fisheries after the implementation of territory-wide trawl ban was implemented

from 2012 under scenarios with and without the reclamation for HKBCF and the proposed third

runway project. ECOPATH with ECOSIM “combines software for ecosystem trophic mass

balance (biomass and flow) analysis (ECOPATH) with a dynamic modelling capability (ECOSIM)

for exploring past and future impacts on fishing and environmental disturbances” (Christensen

and Walters, 2004).

14.3.4.5 For the study conducted by Sumaila and Cheung (2012), there are various limitations and

uncertainties which could affect the accuracy of the predicted biomass. As a result it is important

to note that the results presented illustrate general patterns but not exact values. Limitations and

uncertainties include the coarse grid size employed in the model (2 km x 2 km) does not allow

accurate representation of the reclamation area, the starting and completion years of the

reclamation projects have been set forward which would affect the analysis of recovery rate of the

ecosystem, etc. Another major limitation of ECOPATH with ECOSIM is the quality and quantity of

available data. A large amount of data input (e.g. growth, mortality, recruitment, abundance, catch

trends, catch-at-age data etc.) is required to generate a more accurate prediction, and such data

are often not available for many species in Hong Kong due to the lack of research data. In an

attempt to take into account all trophic levels in the ecosystem, ecosystem processes may be

over-simplified, and far-reaching assumptions may be made.

14.3.4.6 In view of the above limitations and uncertainties, fisheries modelling would not be conducted for

the 3RS EIA. However, the fisheries surveys identified in the following sections, including


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interviews with the fishermen, were carried out to collect updated information for establishment of

the existing baseline condition and subsequently for facilitating a robust impact assessment.

14.3.5 Identification of Information Gap

14.3.5.1 The objective of the fisheries impact assessment is to facilitate an objective prediction and

evaluation of potential fisheries impacts through the provision of sufficient and accurate data.

Desktop studies have generated a relatively comprehensive picture of fisheries resources in the

study area. However, fisheries resources data within the proposed land formation footprint and

HKIAAA were found to be lacking, as HKIAAA is a marine exclusion zone which has been closed

to fishing vessels since the airport opened in 1998. Changes in fishing operations and potential

recovery of fisheries resources can also be expected on account of the implementation of trawling

ban by the HKSAR Government from 31 December 2012. As a result updated fisheries data were

required to be collected to permit a robust impact assessment to be undertaken. In particular

focus shall be given to the project footprint where there is direct impact, and adjacent areas

including the Brothers, SCLKCMP, northern and western Chek Lap Kok waters which may be

impacted by the proposed project (Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-001).

14.3.5.2 Most of the data on nursery and spawning grounds of commercial fisheries resources in the study

area come from an ERM study in 1998. Recent project developments in the area (such as the

Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF)) may result in changes in the spawning

ground conditions. The Port Survey in 2006 does not contain detailed information on the

commercial fish fry distribution in the study area. Therefore, updated information on the fish fry of

commercial species, especially during the peak spawning season for majority of commercial

fisheries between May and August that may be found in the study area was also considered to be

required.

14.3.5.3 In previous approved EIA reports the fisheries impact assessments were mostly based on the

Port Survey findings from AFCD. The latest review of fishing operations in the study area is the

Port Survey in 2006, and no updated information is available covering the period after the 31

December 2012 trawl ban came into effect.

14.3.5.4 No information regarding fisheries resources at the ARs at SCLKCMP is available in the AFCD

annual Hong Kong Reef Check or in other approved EIA covering a similar study area. The

monitoring programme commissioned by AFCD to conduct gill net and hand line surveys at the

AR site only lasted until 2006 and no updated data are available. Fisheries data around the ARs

deployed in SCLKCMP were identified as an information gap under this EIA.

14.3.6 Fisheries Survey Methodology

14.3.6.1 In order to fill the identified information gaps and to collect sufficient baseline information for the

impact assessment, the following fisheries surveys have been undertaken within the North

Western WCZ, and the details of survey schedule are provided in Appendix 14.3:

� Fish trawl surveys to cover demersal fisheries resources;

� Purse-seine surveys to cover pelagic fisheries resources;


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� Gill net surveys and hand lining surveys to cover other fisheries resources within the water

column;

� Underwater visual counts around the ARs deployed at SCLKCMP to review the existing status

of the ARs in terms of value of habitat provision for commercial fisheries;

� Ichthyoplankton and fish post-larvae survey to assess the abundance, composition and

diversity of ichthyoplankton and fish post-larvae in the northern Lantau waters and thus

determine if the survey areas are important for commercial fisheries resources; and

� Fisheries and aquaculture interview surveys to supplement other fisheries survey findings.

Fish Trawl Survey

14.3.6.2 Fish trawl surveys have been undertaken to collect baseline information on demersal fisheries

resources within the proposed land formation footprint and adjacent waters. The survey transects

covered the proposed land formation area within and outside HKIAAA and the immediately

adjacent area (F1A, F1B, F2A, F2B, F3A and F3B), the spawning ground of commercial fisheries

resources in northern Lantau waters identified in previous studies (F5A, F5B, F6A and F6B) and

the waters to the west of the existing HKIA (F4A and F4B). The transect routes for the fish trawl

surveys are shown in Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-007.

14.3.6.3 A total of three daytime and three night time surveys were conducted for both the dry and wet

seasons. One daytime and one night time survey were completed for the dry season in between

November and December 2012, while another two daytime and two night time surveys were

conducted in November 2013. Three daytime and three night time surveys were completed for the

wet season between May and August 2013. Details of fish trawl survey are presented in Appendix

14.2.

Purse Seine Survey

14.3.6.4 Purse seine surveys have been conducted at 10 monitoring stations to collect baseline

information on pelagic fisheries resources, and included areas where trawling is not permitted

(e.g. in Marine Park), or with unsuitable bottom conditions such as rocky substrates (Drawing No.

MCL/P132/EIA/14-008). The survey area included the proposed land formation footprint within

HKIAAA (P3A and P3B), the spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources in northern

Lantau waters (P5A, P5B), SCLKCMP where fish trawls have been prohibited since gazettal of

the marine park (P2A and P2B), the planned Brothers Marine Park (BMP) where the water is

relatively shallow (P1A and P1B) and the waters to the west of HKIA (P4A and P4B).

14.3.6.5 Purse seine surveys have been conducted twice in daytime for the dry season in both March and

November 2013, and four times in daytime for the wet season between May and August 2013.

Night time purse seine surveys in northwestern waters are not feasible, as this survey has to be

conducted with the aid of bright lighting to attract fish, which is prohibited in this area according to

relevant shipping laws (Cap.548 Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) Regulation).

Details of purse seine survey are presented in Appendix 14.2.


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Gill Net Survey

14.3.6.6 Gill net surveys have been conducted at 10 monitoring stations in addition to fish trawl survey and

purse seine survey to obtain a more complete inventory of the species composition (Drawing No.

MCL/P132/EIA/14-008). The survey stations are similar to the purse seine survey but a bit closer

to the coast in order to collect fisheries resources that inhabit in shallower waters.

14.3.6.7 Gill net surveys were conducted twice in the daytime for the dry season in both March and

November 2013, and four times during the daytime for the wet season between May and

September 2013. Night surveys for gill netting were not proposed on account of safety as it is not

practical to deploy and collect the gill nets during night time, as well as the fact that the duration

for gill net deployment would be difficult to standardise at night time. Gill net stations P3A, P3B,

P5A and P5B were not surveyed on 28 March 2013 due to high current speed and the

supplementary surveys were conducted in 09 November 2013. Details of Gill Net Survey are

presented in Appendix 14.2.

Hand Line Survey

14.3.6.8 Hand lining was used after the deployment of gill nets in parallel with the gill net survey. This is

the common practice adopted by those fishermen who use gill nets. Hand line surveys have been

conducted at five monitoring stations (H1, H2, H3, H4 and H5) to add to the species inventory

obtained from fish trawl surveys, purse seine surveys and gill net surveys (Drawing No.

MCL/P132/EIA/14-008). The survey stations were similar to the purse seine surveys but a little

closer to the coast to allow data to be collected to reflect those fisheries resources that inhabit

shallower waters. The survey area included the proposed land formation footprint within HKIAAA

(H3), the spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources in northern Lantau waters (H5),

SCLKCMP where fish trawls have been prohibited since gazettal of the marine park (H2), the

planned BMP where the water is relatively shallow (H1) and the waters to the west of HKIA (H4).

Hand lining surveys were conducted twice during the daytime in both March and November 2013,

and four times during the daytime for the wet season between May and September 2013. Details

of hand line survey are presented in Appendix 14.2.

Artificial Reef Survey

14.3.6.9 The baseline conditions at the ARs located within the study area were reviewed using published

information from AFCD. Two preliminary dive surveys were conducted on 11 July and 8

November 2013 at the artificial reefs of SCLKCMP to review the status of the ARs as well as the

suitability of carrying out further underwater visual count surveys. Initial findings indicated that the

waters around the artificial reefs were similar to other parts of the western Hong Kong waters, i.e.

turbid and with low visibility of less than 1 m on both days of the site visit. Secchi disc

measurements were also made on 5 and 6 November, 2013 to review the underwater visibility

and suitability of conducting underwater visual count. The locations of the fisheries surveys in the

vicinity of the artificial reefs are shown in Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-008.

14.3.6.10 Dive surveys within the artificial reefs which are located within the northeast of the Chek Lap Kok

waters, i.e. within the existing HKIAAA, were not undertaken as diving conditions were assessed

to be unsafe. Details are presented in Appendix 14.2.

Ichthyoplankton and Fish Post-larvae Survey


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14.3.6.11 The objective of this survey is to assess the abundance, composition and diversity of

ichthyoplankton and fish post-larvae in northern Lantau waters, and also determine if the survey

areas are important for commercial fisheries resources.

14.3.6.12 The ichthyoplankton survey is required to determine the abundance and species composition of

fish larval assemblages. At this stage, the fish are in their planktonic phase and float freely with

the water currents.

14.3.6.13 The fish post – larval survey is intended to determine the abundance and species composition of

the fish post settlement. During this stage, the fish have attained a relatively larger size and are

capable of swimming against currents, or have adopted to staying above sea bottom most of the

time.

14.3.6.14 Surveys of ichthyoplankton and fish post-larvae were conducted four times during the spawning

season between May and August 2013. According to the findings of ERM (1998), higher number

of reproductive fish individuals could be found in the study area (The Brothers, Lung Kwu Chau

and Deep Bay) during March to April, May to August and December to January. Three monitoring

stations were located within the land formation footprint (L4, L5 and L6), three stations were

located at the planned Marine Park at the Brothers (L1, L2 and L3), three stations at the waters to

the west of the existing HKIA (L13, L14 and L15), three stations at the spawning ground of

commercial fisheries resources (L10, L11 and L12) and three stations in SCLKCMP (L7, L8 and

L9). The survey locations are shown in Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-009. Details of survey

methodology are presented in Appendix 14.2.

Fisheries Interview Survey

14.3.6.15 In addition to the desktop review of relevant literature on culture and capture fisheries and the

programme of fisheries surveys, interviews with fishermen were conducted between January and

November 2013 to supplement all obtained information. Eleven homeports that are likely to have

vessels operating in the study area were visited, including Castle Peak Bay, Tung Chung / Sha

Lo Wan, Ma Wan / Tsing Lung Tau / Yam O, Tsuen Wan, Tai O, San Pui / Lau Fau Shan and

Aberdeen. Five extra homeports outside of the study area, namely, Cheung Chau, Yung Shue

Wan / Sok Kwu Wan, Peng Chau and Silver Mine Bay were also visited (Drawing No.

MCL/P132/EIA/14-001).

14.3.6.16 A survey questionnaire was developed for interviewing fishermen, in order to acquire information

on fishing vessel types and numbers deployed by fishermen for fishing operation, to help

determine locations where capture fisheries occur, fishing time in various locations, major species

of adult fish catches, etc. The template for the fisheries survey questionnaire is shown in Annex

A of Appendix 14.2.

14.3.6.17 The interviews with fishermen for this project were conducted with reference to the numbers of

interviews conducted in the Port Survey 2006. However, the actual number of interviewees was

dependent on availability and willingness to be part of the interview process.

14.3.6.18 Since the trawl ban effected from 31 December 2012, fishermen using trawlers have moved to

outside Hong Kong, while some of the trawlers have transformed their operation to purse seining,

gill netting and hand lining. For the survey conducted right after the trawl ban in Hong Kong, the

survey results may not directly reflect the impact of the trawl ban on the fishermen. The dominant


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catches reported by the fishermen were verified with the information collected from fisheries

surveys.

Aquaculture Interview Survey

14.3.6.19 Site visit and interview with aquaculture farmers were conducted between August and September

2013. Aquaculture activities within the study area include Ma Wan Marine FCZ and oyster

production area in Deep Bay. Information relating to aquaculture activities was acquired from

aquaculture representatives and fish or oyster farmers during the site visits to these culture

zones.

14.4 Fisheries Baseline Conditions

14.4.1 General

14.4.1.1 The fisheries baseline condition is developed based on literature review which includes surveys

and studies of projects in the vicinity of the study area, and fisheries surveys of this study as

described in Section 14.3.6.1. Literature review is mostly based on the Port Survey, which is a

comprehensive fisheries study conducted by AFCD. The Port Survey consists of an interview

programme with 1,505 interviews conducted. About 36% of the local fishing fleet which accounted

for all homeports (i.e. places at which local fishing vessels are based) and vessel types was

interviewed. During the interviews, particulars (e.g. vessel length, type and its homeport) of the

fishing vessels were recorded and information about their fishing operations and fisheries

production in Hong Kong waters were collected. The results of Port Survey 2006 including

production, number of vessels and catch value were presented by a uniform grid on a map of

Hong Kong’s waters. Other literature review data are obtained from surveys and studies of

projects in the vicinity of the study area, including latest status of capture fisheries and

aquaculture in Hong Kong on the AFCD website (AFCD, 2014) and Fisheries Resources and

Fishing Operations in Hong Kong Waters report commissioned by AFCD (ERM, 1998).

14.4.1.2 Less trawlers were sampled in the present fisheries interview survey for various reasons, e.g.

spending more time operating outside Hong Kong waters, switching to other non-trawl operations

or retired from the industry. It was further reviewed that by excluding the trawlers from the

interview survey, the dominant vessel type was sampan (comprising approximate 73.1%), with

purse seiner approximate 5.8%, gill netter approximate 5.5 % and long liner/ hand liner/

miscellaneous vessel approximate 15.6%. The findings were considered consistent with the Port

Survey 2006 vessel type composition, with the dominant vessel type as sampan (comprising

approximate 71.3% of total vessels excluding trawlers), purse seiner approximate 4.7%, gill netter

approximate 9.9%, and long liner /hand liner /miscellaneous vessel approximate 14.1%.

14.4.1.3 In brief, the fisheries interview survey findings conducted in 2013 suggested that the information

presented in Port Survey 2006 is still applicable. The interview surveys conducted in 2013 only

focused in western Hong Kong waters, while the AFCD Port Survey 2006 provides a more

comprehensive analysis that covered all homeports in Hong Kong. The following fisheries impact

assessment will be conducted based on the updated fisheries interview survey in 2013 and the

fisheries surveys conducted between 2012 and 2013 for the 3RS project, with reference to the

Port Survey 2006 findings.


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14.4.2 Physical Environment

14.4.2.1 The study area for fisheries impact assessment covers four WCZs, which is the same as the

study area for marine water quality. The Project Site is located in northern Lantau waters, within

the western estuarine zone of Hong Kong waters. The North Western WCZ is influenced by the

discharges from Pearl River, especially in the wet season. The influence of freshwater from Pearl

River can greatly reduce the surface salinities to the west of Hong Kong to as little as 1-2 psu

(Morton & Morton 1983). Northern Lantau waters have a predominantly sandy substrate due to

the heavily influenced by the Pearl River. Therefore, the water in North Western WCZ is low in

salinity and sediment laden. In addition, the seabed off northern Lantau is shallow, with usually

less than -20 m CD. Details of the baseline water quality and sediment quality of the study area

are presented in Section 8.3.3 and Sections 10.4.1 of this EIA respectively.

14.4.3 Capture Fisheries

Overview

14.4.3.1 Detailed data on recent HKSAR capture fisheries in the study area were taken from AFCD

website (AFCD, 2014), results of Port Survey 2006 (Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-003 to

Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-006) conducted by AFCD, and Environmental Monitoring and

Audit data from Contaminated Mud Pits (CMP EM&A) project (CEDD, 2013a; CEDD, 2013b).

Details of the capture fisheries are provided in Appendix 14.1, Appendix 14.3 and Appendix

14.4.

14.4.3.2 The estimated fisheries production in Hong Kong in 2013 was 170,129 tonnes with the value

estimated at about HK$2,338 million (AFCD, 2014). Within HKSAR waters, the highest yields for

local fisheries were concentrated at eastern and southern waters, especially at Tap Mun, Ninepin

Group and Po Toi (Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-003), while the western waters were

comparatively less productive.

14.4.3.3 Within the study area, the level of overall fishing operations varied in different places, ranging

from very low to moderate (approx. 1-400 vessels) (Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-006). There

was no reported fish fry fisheries production from the fishermen (Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-

004). SCLKCMP is the only place with reported high adult fish production in terms of weight

(400 – 600 kg/ha) (Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-003),

14.4.3.4 Northern Lantau waters had been identified as spawning grounds of commercial fisheries

resources such as Leiognathus brevirostris (shortnose ponyfish), Lateolabrax japonicus

(Japanese seabass), Konosirus punctatus (dotted gizzard shad), Solenocera crassicornis

(coastal mud shrimp), Metapenaeus affinis (jinga shrimp) and Oratosquilla oratoria (mantis

shrimp), based on a scientific study which conducted fisheries surveys (ERM, 1998). The highest

number of reproductive individuals was observed during May to August, while other months with

increased spawning activities included March to April, and December to January (ERM, 1998). In

the same scientific study, the study area was not recognised as important nursery ground for

juvenile fish, crustaceans or molluscs (ERM, 1998). Places with high fisheries production in terms

of value included waters around SCLKCMP, and western Lantau waters off Tai O (Drawing No.

MCL/P132/EIA/14-005).


14-11


14.4.3.5 Although the study area covers the North Western Water Control Zone (WCZ), North Western

Supplementary WCZ, Deep Bay WCZ and Western Buffer WCZ, it is anticipated that the focal

area for capture fisheries issues would be the land formation footprint itself located at the north of

existing airport island, and adjacent areas in the Brothers, Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine

Park (SCLKCMP), western and northern Chek Lap Kok waters which may be impacted by the

proposed project. Therefore these five areas will be discussed in detail.

Northern Chek Lap Kok waters

14.4.3.6 For fisheries surveys of this study, trawling, purse seine, gill net and hand line surveys were

conducted in northern Chek Lap Kok waters. Except for the high yield recorded by hand line

survey during the wet season, most of the surveys were generally recorded a moderate yield.

Thryssa kammalensis, Sardinella albella, Temnopleurus toreumaticus, Leiognathus brevirostris

and Alepes djedaba were the top five abundant species recorded, while Thryssa kammalensis,

Sardinella albella, Nematalosa nasus, Rhizoprionodon acutus and Temnopleurus toreumaticus

were the dominant species recorded in terms of yield. All these species are of no or low

commercial values. From the CMP surveys (Appendix 14.1), catches were also dominated by

species of low or no commercial value (e.g. Turritella terebra, Charybdis spp.) in terms of both

abundance and yield (CEDD, 2013a; CEDD, 2013b). This supports the fisheries survey findings

of this study. From Port Survey 2006, the overall fisheries production was moderately low to

moderate in terms of weight (100 - 400 kg/ha/year) and moderate to high in terms of value (AFCD,

2006). Of the top ten families of fisheries production in the Port Survey 2006, sardine, anchory,

shrimp and croaker were recorded with moderate-low production (10-20 kg/ha). In summary,

moderately low to high yield were observed in this area with dominant species of no to low

commercial values. Therefore, the level of fisheries resources is considered as moderate in the

northern Chek Lap Kok water.

14.4.3.7 From the fisheries interview survey of this study, a moderate number of vessels (approx. 110

vessels) were recorded frequently operated around northern Chek Lap Kok waters (Appendix

14.4). Based on the Port Survey 2006, the overall level of fishing operation in the northern Chek

Lap Kok waters was in the range of moderately low to moderate (approx. 50-400 vessels).

Therefore, a conservative estimation of the number of vessels operating frequently around the

northern Chek Lap Kok waters for each year is around 110 – 400.

14.4.3.8 The northern Chek Lap Kok waters lies within the identified spawning ground of commercial

fisheries resources in northern waters (ERM, 1998). However, from the ichthyoplankton and post-

larvae surveys conducted for the 3RS project, it was shown that the ichthyoplankton and post-

larvae densities (1.16 ± 1.37 larvae m-3

) and family richness (6.50 ± 2.92) were low and mostly

consisted of families of low commercial values.

Western Chek Lap Kok waters

14.4.3.9 For fisheries surveys of this study, trawling, purse seine, gill net and hand line surveys were

conducted in western Chek Lap Kok waters and moderate yield was recorded in most of the

surveys. Most of the dominant species are of no or low commercial values. Sardinella albella,

Thryssa kammalensis, Ilisha elongata, Konosirus punctatus and Thryssa hamiltonii were the top

five abundant species recorded, while Thryssa kammalensis, Sardinella albella, Alepes djedaba,

Thryssa hamiltonii and Leiognathus brevirostris were the dominant species recorded in terms of

yield. Most of the dominant species are of no or low commercial values, except for Illisha


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elongata which is of medium commercial value (Appendix 14.3). From the CMP surveys (CEDD,

2013a; CEDD, 2013b), catches were dominated by species of no or low commercial values (e.g.

Turritella terebra, Anadara ferruginea and Charybdis spp.) in terms of abundance and yield

(Appendix 14.1). This supports the fisheries survey findings of this study. From Port Survey 2006,

the overall fisheries production in western Chek Lap Kok waters was moderately low in terms of

weight (100 - 200 kg/ha/year) and moderately low to moderate in terms of value (AFCD, 2006).

Among the top ten families of fisheries production recorded in Port Survey 2006, shrimp and

croaker were recorded with moderate-low production, while others were recorded with low

production. In summary, moderately low to moderate yield were observed in the western Chek

Lap Kok waters, with dominant species of no to medium commercial values. Overall, the level of

fisheries resources is considered as moderate in the western Chek Lap Kok waters.

14.4.3.10 From the fisheries interview survey of this study, the survey findings indicated that a low number

of vessels (Approx. 30) frequently operate around the western Chek Lap Kok waters (Appendix

14.4). Based on Port Survey 2006, the overall level of fishing operation was moderately low

(approx. 50-100 vessels). Therefore, a conservative estimation of the number of vessels

operating frequently around the western Chek Lap Kok waters for each year is around 50 - 100.

14.4.3.11 Western Chek Lap Kok waters lies outside the identified spawning ground of commercial fisheries

resources in the northern Lantau waters (ERM, 1998). From the ichthyoplankton and post-larvae

surveys of this study, ichthyoplankton and post-larvae densities (1.00 ± 0.95 larvae m-3

) and

family richness (7.04 ± 2.42) were also shown to be low and mostly consisted of families of low

commercial values.

SCLKCMP

14.4.3.12 For the fisheries survey of this study, purse seine, gill net and hand line surveys were conducted

in SCLKCMP. Trawl survey was not conducted for minimising the disturbance to seabed within

the marine park. High yield was recorded in both purse seine survey (during both wet and dry

seasons) and gill net survey (during dry season). Species caught with high abundance

(Nematalosa nasus, Sardinella albella, Valamugil cunnesius, Ilisha elongata and Pampus

argenteus) and yield (Nematalosa nasus, Sardinella albella, Collichthys lucidus, Valamugil

cunnesius and Leiognathus brevirostris) are of medium to high commercial value (Appendix

14.3). However from CMP surveys (CEDD, 2013a; CEDD, 2013b), there was a high portion of

species with low or no commercial value (e.g. Turritella terebra, Charybdis spp.) recorded

(Appendix 14.1). From Port Survey 2006, captured species with moderate levels of production in

this area included shrimp and croaker (AFCD, 2006). The overall fisheries production in terms of

weight was moderate (200 - 400 kg/ha/year) and in terms of value was moderate to high (AFCD,

2006). For the top ten families of fisheries production in Port Survey 2006, shrimp and croaker

were recorded with moderate production (20-40 kg/ha) while rabbit fish, crab, mullet, sardine and

anchovy are of moderate-low production (10-20 kg/ha). Others species were recorded with low

production. In summary, moderate to high yield were observed in this area with dominant species

of no to high commercial values. Therefore, SCLKCMP is considered with moderate to high level

of fisheries resources.

14.4.3.13 From the fisheries interview survey findings, a low number of vessel (Approx. 20 vessels) was

recorded frequently operated within and around SCLKCMP (Appendix 14.4). Based on Port

Survey 2006, the overall level of fishing operation was moderate (approx. 100-400 vessels)


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around SCLKCMP. Therefore, a conservative estimation of the number of vessels operating

frequently within SCLKCMP each year is around 100 - 400.

14.4.3.14 SCLKCMP lies within the identified spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources in

northern Lantau waters (ERM, 1998). However, from ichthyoplankton and post-larvae surveys for

this study, it was shown that the ichthyoplankton and post-larvae densities (1.13 ± 1.98 larvae m-3

)

and family richness (6.79 ± 3.34) were low, and mostly consisted of families of low commercial

values.

The Brothers

14.4.3.15 The Brothers are recognised as a planned Marine Park. The discussion on designating the BMP

originated from a recommendation to designate a marine park for dolphin protection in order to

mitigate the cumulative ecological impacts on the CWD as a result of the Hong Kong - Zhuhai -

Macao Bridge (HZMB), Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF), Hong Kong Link Road

(HKLR) and Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link (TM-CLKL) Projects. High yield was recorded in both

gill net survey (during wet season) and hand line survey (during dry season). Trawl survey was

not conducted for minimising the disturbance to seabed. Most of the dominant species recorded

in terms of abundance (Thryssa kammalensis, Sardinella albella, Alepes djedaba, Sebastiscus

marmoratus and Temnopleurus toreumaticus) and yield (Sardinella albella, Thryssa kammalensis,

Konosirus punctatus, Sebastiscus marmoratus and Siganus canaliculatus.) are with low or no

commercial value (Appendix 14.3), except for Sebastiscus marmoratus, which is of high

commercial value. From Port Survey 2006, capture species reportedly with moderate to very high

levels of production in this area included scad, shrimp and croaker (AFCD, 2006). The overall

fisheries production in terms of weight was moderate (200 - 400 kg/ha/year) and in terms of value

was moderate to high (AFCD, 2006). For the top ten families of fisheries production recorded in

Port Survey 2006, scad and shrimp were recorded with moderate production, while rabbitfish,

squid, crab, mullet, anchovy and sardine were recorded with moderate-low production. Other

species were recorded with low production. In summary, low to high yield were observed in this

area with dominant species of no to high commercial values. Therefore, the waters around the

planned BMP are considered with moderate to high level of fisheries resources.

14.4.3.16 From the fisheries interview survey of this EIA, a moderate number of vessels (Approx. 100

vessels) were recorded frequently operated around the Brothers, Nevertheless, many fishermen

indicated that since the commencement of construction of HKBCF in March 2012, they have

shifted their major fishing ground from northern Lantau Island (The Brothers and Yan O) to

southern Lantau Island (Peng Chau) and western Lantau Island (Tai O), as a result of their

perceived changes in water quality and current (Appendix 14.4). From Port Survey 2006, the

overall level of fishing operations around the Brothers was considered to be moderate (approx.

100-400 vessels), which is consistent with the fisheries interview survey findings of this EIA.

Therefore, a conservative estimation of the number of vessels frequently operating within the

waters of the planned BMP each year is around 100 - 400.

14.4.3.17 The Brothers lies within the identified spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources in

northern Lantau waters (ERM, 1998). However, from ichthyoplankton and post-larvae surveys for

this study, it was shown that the ichthyoplankton and post-larvae densities (8.66 ± 24.80 larvae

m-3

) and family richness (3.54 ± 1.56) were low and mostly consisted of families of low

commercial values.


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Project Footprint

14.4.3.18 For fisheries survey of this study, trawl, purse seine, gill net and hand line surveys were

conducted within the proposed land formation footprint. Most of the dominant species recorded in

terms of abundance and yield are with low or no commercial value. The top three dominant

species recorded within the footprint in terms of abundance and yield were Temnopleurus

toreumaticus (sea urchin) and Siphonosoma sp., which are non-commercial species, and

Turritella terebra (sea snail), which is of low commercial value. Although high yield was recorded

in trawl survey during both wet and dry season, a large portion of species caught are of low or no

commercial value. Apart from trawl survey, most of the dominant species recorded in terms of

abundance (Konosirus punctatus, Sardinella albella, Thryssa kammalensis, Temnopleurus

toreumaticus and Thryssa hamiltonii) and yield (Konosirus punctatus, Sardinella albella,

Nematalosa nasus, Rhizoprionodon acutus and Drepane punctata) are also of low commercial

value, except for Drepane punctata which is of medium commercial value (Appendix 14.3).

According to the Port Survey 2006, the overall fisheries production in terms of weight was

moderately low (100 – 200 kg/ha/year) and in terms of value was moderately low to moderate

(AFCD 2006). Among the top ten families of fisheries production in Port Survey 2006, shrimp and

croaker were recorded with moderate-low production, others were recorded with low production.

In summary, moderately low to high yield were observed in this area, with dominant species of no

to medium commercial value. In view that the high yield was recorded by trawl surveys with a

large proportion of non-commercial species, the level of fisheries resources in project footprint is

considered as low to moderate.

14.4.3.19 From the fisheries interview survey of this EIA, a moderate number of vessels of 150 frequently

operated within the project footprint were recorded. According to the Port Survey 2006, the level

of overall fishing operations was moderately low to moderate (approx. 50-400 vessels/year) within

the proposed land formation footprint. However, the numbers of each type of vessel recorded

were very low (around 0 – 50 vessels) (Appendix 14.1). Therefore, a conservative approach will

be adopted for the impact assessment i.e. the use of the range of 150-400 vessels operating

frequently within the project footprint for each year will be adopted.

14.4.3.20 The northeastern corner of the project footprint overlaps with the identified spawning ground of

commercial fisheries resources within the northern Lantau waters (ERM, 1998). However, from

ichthyoplankton and post-larvae surveys for this study, it was shown that the ichthyoplankton and

post-larvae densities (6.42 ± 9.33 larvae m-3

) and family richness (3.67 ± 2.24) were low, and

mostly consisted of families of low commercial values.

14.4.4 Culture Fisheries

14.4.4.1 Marine fish culture is protected and regulated by the Marine Fish Culture Ordinance (Cap. 353),

which requires all marine fish culture activity to operate under licence in designated fish culture

zones. Currently, there are 26 fish culture zones occupying a total sea area of 209 ha with some

987 licensed operators. In 2013, the production from local marine fish culture was 1,005 tonnes

valued at $94 million, constituting 6% of the local demand for live marine fish (AFCD, 2014).

14.4.4.2 Oyster farming is another type of mariculture in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s oyster farming

operations occur along the intertidal mudflat of Deep Bay only, in northwestern Hong Kong and

within the Deep Bay WCZ. In 2013, the production was about 108 tonnes (meat only) valued at

$9 million (AFCD, 2014).


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14.4.4.3 From literature review and interview findings, no marine fish culture, pond fish culture or oyster

culture exists within the project footprint. The only Fish Culture Zone (FCZ) in the study area at

Ma Wan which is over 13 km away from the project footprint, while the oyster production area in

Deep Bay is over 14 km away from the project footprint. Details of the culture fisheries within the

study area are provided in Appendix 14.1 and Appendix 14.5.

14.4.5 Artificial Reef

14.4.5.1 AFCD has been implementing an artificial reef (AR) project since 1996 to enhance fisheries

resources and promote biodiversity in Hong Kong’s marine waters (AFCD, 2013a). Artificial reefs

are devices used for attracting and supporting large populations of fish, which provide complex,

hard surface habitat in areas where only soft bottom seabed occurs (Wilson, 2003). Details of

artificial reef (AR) deployment within the study area are provided in Appendix 14.1 and

Appendix 14.3. ARs were deployed near the northeastern corner of airport island within Marine

Exclusion Zone 3 and at SCLKCMP for the purposes of Chinese White Dolphin feeding station

and enhancement of habitat quality and marine resources (AFCD, 2013a). There is no AR

deployed within the project footprint.

14.4.5.2 Since the AR sites in the Chek Lap Kok waters are significantly affected by the construction of the

Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) as a result of potential suspended solids

elevations that exceed the water quality objective at this AR would occur, they are not considered

as sites of fisheries importance and will be excluded from the impact assessment. While it is in

the HZMB-HKBCF EIA report (Arup, 2009a) that ARs would be provided as fishery enhancement

measure, and part of them might be deployed in the planned BMP, details of the new ARs are not

yet available at the time of the current EIA study and hence they will not be considered in the

impact assessment also. The AR deployment sites at SCLKCMP are relatively far from the

project footprint (over 3 km away). It has managed to attract species of high commercial value

(Acanthopagrus latus, Acanthopagrus schlegeli, Eleutheronema tetradactylus, Argyrosomus

japonicus, Terapon jarbua and Sparus sarba) and rocky/hard habitat species (Apogon fasciatus,

Halichoeres dussumieri, Sebasticus marmoratus, Monacanthus chinensis and Epinephelus

awoara) (Tsang et al., 2001), as shown by the AFCD monitoring programme between 2000 and

2006.

14.4.5.3 Two dive visits were conducted as described in Section 14.3.6.9. Due to the high turbidity and

low observation range, quantitative surveys by underwater visual count was not feasible and only

qualitative records were obtained from the two dive visits. Soft corals were observed in low

density on the artificial reefs, with macroinvertebrates (e.g., unidentified crabs) and sessile fauna

recorded as being attached to the artificial reefs. This indicated the artificial reefs do serve the

function of providing hard substrates for the colonisation of benthic fisheries resources at the

artificial reefs of SCLKCMP.

14.4.6 Review of the Information Gap

14.4.6.1 The fisheries survey findings have filled the information gap identified in section 14.3.5. The

fisheries survey has provided baseline information in the proposed land formation footprint and

HKIAAA area, which was identified to be lacking in previous study. The ichthyoplankton and fish

post-larvae survey in this study provided updated information on the fish fry of commercial

species in the study area. After the fisheries interview survey, it was found that the AFCD Port


14-16


Survey data in 2006 are still valid. The fisheries impact assessment can therefore based on

AFCD Port Survey data in 2006, with the fisheries interview survey as supplementary information.

14.4.7 Sites of Fisheries Importance Based on Literature Review and Fisheries

Survey Findings

14.4.7.1 According to EIAO-TM Annex 17 Section 3.2.2, sites of fisheries importance include nursery and

spawning grounds of commercial important species of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other

marine organisms, and seasonal occurrence of juvenile and spawning stocks in the study area. A

literature review to provide the background information on culture and capture fisheries especially

within the northern Lantau waters has been undertaken. Fisheries surveys were conducted to fill

the information gap identified from the literature review. Based on the above literature review and

fisheries survey findings, the following sites of fisheries importance were identified and shown in

Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-001:

� Spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources in northern Lantau waters, which had

been identified as site of fisheries importance in previous study for AFD (ERM, 1998), and

which consist of spawning individuals of high commercial value (e.g. Lateolabrax japonicus,

Metapenaeus affinis and Oratosquilla oratoria);

� SCLKCMP, which was identified as a site of rich fisheries resources and nursery grounds for

the abundance of marine fish and shellfish species recorded by the AFCD (AFCD, 2013b);

� ARs at SCLKCMP, which were also considered as sites of fisheries importance in other

approved EIA and these devices served to enhance the fisheries resources in the area. The

proposed ARs at BMP is also considered as site of fisheries importance;

� Ma Wan Marine Fish Culture Zone (FCZ), which was the only FCZ in the study area and

supports the aquaculture of commercial important fish species;

� Oyster production area at Deep Bay mudflat, which was the only location for Hong Kong’s

oyster farming operations;

� Area of high production of capture fisheries off Tai O, where AFCD 2006 Port Survey (AFCD,

2014) identified area of high fisheries production (400 – 600 kg/ha/year) of adult fish. The area

also had moderate level of fishing operation (approx. 100-400 vessels); and

� Area around the Brothers which has been proposed to be designated as Marine Park arising

from the HZMB-HKBCF project.

14.4.7.2 It should be noted that the baseline information collected during the course of the study spanned

the period before the trawl ban on 31 December 2012 and following the effective ban. As the ban

on trawling activities has only been implemented for slightly over a year, the recovery of fisheries

resources is unlikely to be captured in the surveys undertaken for this EIA. The impact

assessment is therefore based on the best available information and latest fisheries survey

findings.

14.5 Fisheries Impact Assessment Methodology


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14.5.1.1 A comprehensive review of literature has been conducted for the establishment of baseline

information on fisheries resources, composition of commercially important species, the level and

pattern of fishing activity and fisheries production in the study area. Focused fisheries survey

including trawl, purse seine, gill net, hand line, ichthyoplankton and post-larvae surveys, and

artificial reefs dive visits at the project footprint and adjacent waters that may potentially be

impacted directly or indirectly have been conducted, for the collection of updated baseline

information to supplement the identified information gaps. Sites of fisheries importance within the

study area were identified for further impact assessment.

14.5.1.2 In addition, an updated fisheries interview survey at 16 homeports of the western Hong Kong

waters was also conducted between January and November 2013, to review the validity and to

supplement the Port Survey 2006 findings.

14.5.1.3 The fisheries impact assessment was carried with reference to the EIAO-TM Annex 17. The

potential impacts on fisheries due to the project were identified in Section 14.6. The nature and

extent of impacts on aquaculture and capture fisheries were described and quantified where

possible. The prediction of impacts has also taken into account the assessments for water quality

and ecological impacts as detailed in Chapter 8 and Chapter 13 respectively. The impact

significance of potential deterioration of water quality has made references to the Water Quality

Objectives (WQOs) established to protect the beneficial uses of water quality in WCZs under the

Water Pollution Control Ordinance. Specific WQOs relevant to this study were listed in Table 8.1

to Table 8.4 of this EIA. The meeting of WQOs reflects the potential changes in water quality are

within environmentally acceptable levels which support the fisheries resources and habitats. The

significance of the predicted impacts on fisheries was evaluated with reference to the criteria

presented in Annex 9 of the EIAO-TM and summarised as follows:

� Nature of impact: Permanent, irreversible or long term impact would be rated as higher impact

significance.

� Size of affected area: The area of fisheries habitats, fishing grounds or aquaculture sites to be

affected constituting a high proportion of the total area of fisheries habitats, fishing grounds or

aquaculture sites in Hong Kong would be rated as higher impact significance.

� Loss of fisheries resources / production: The loss of fisheries resources / production

constituting a high proportion of total fisheries resources / production in Hong Kong would be

rated as high impact significance.

� Destruction and disturbance of nursery and spawning grounds: Nursery and spawning

grounds of commercially important species to be disturbed or destroyed, affecting the

recruitment of juveniles and hence the adult population in future, would be rated as higher

impact significance.

� Impact on fishing activity: Large number of fishermen or fishing vessels with high dependence

on the affected area would be rated as higher impact significance.

� Impact on aquaculture activity: Large number of aquaculturists or aquaculture farms to be

affected would be rated as higher impact significance.


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14.5.1.4 Impacts are ranked as “low”, “moderate”, or “high”, although in a few cases, “insignificant” (less

than “low”) may also be given. The ranking of a given impact will vary based on the criteria listed

above.

14.5.1.5 If fisheries impacts are found to be moderate or high, mitigation needs to be carried out in

accordance with the EIAO-TM. Mitigation measures are not required for insignificant and low

impacts although precautionary and /or enhancement measures may be recommended if

desirable. The policy for mitigating moderate or high impacts on fisheries is to seek to achieve

impact avoidance, impact minimisation and impact compensation in that order of priority.

14.6 Impact Identification

14.6.1 General

14.6.1.1 The project description is detailed in Chapter 4 of this EIA report. The main areas of marine

habitat loss will be as a result of the land formation for the airport platform extension. The 3RS

additional seawalls and land platform will be formed over a period of several years starting in late

2015 / early 2016 to mid-2022, noting that the third runway and taxiway sections (which accounts

for the majority of the land formation) would be completed by 2020 for closure of the existing

North Runway and opening of the third runway by 2021. Based on the construction planning, the

land formation works has been primarily divided into three main stages, as shown in Drawing No.

MCL/P132/EIA/8-003, the snapshots for key land formation sequence is shown in Appendix 8.4

of Chapter 8 and described below:

� Stage 1 has a T-shaped footprint and consists mainly of the land formation works for the third

runway, the associated west taxiways, the western support area and other supporting

facilities. Construction of this stage is anticipated to commence in 2016 Q1 by installation of

geotextile, sand blanket and ground improvement. Ground improvement for this stage will only

be completed around 2017 Q4. Marine and land filling is anticipated to commence around

2016 Q4. It is expected that the marine works will be completed by early 2018.

� Stage 2 consists of land formation works for the new third runway concourse and aprons

supported by facilities within the east support area. Construction of the southern portions of

this stage by installation of geotextile, sand blanket and ground improvement is anticipated to

commence in 2016 Q1. Ground improvement for this stage will only be completed around

2018 Q2. Marine and land filling at southern portions of this stage is anticipated to commence

around 2016 Q4. It is expected that the marine works will be completed by end 2018.

� Stage 3 is the land formation area at both ends of the existing North Runway associated with

the new wrap-around taxiways, whereby construction activities are restricted by the need to

maintain operation of the existing North Runway until completion of the third runway.

Construction of this stage is anticipated to commence around 2016 Q2 by installation of

geotextile and sand blanket. Marine and land filling of this stage is anticipated to commence in

2017 Q2 and the marine works will not be completed until end 2021.

14.6.1.2 The proposed land formation and associated works and the future operation of the third runway

project may affect the fisheries resources and fishing operations within the project footprint and

adjacent waters. This section identifies the potential short-term and long-term impacts on capture

and culture fisheries during the construction and operation phases of the project.


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14.6.2 Construction Phase

Direct Impacts

14.6.2.1 The potential impacts during the construction phase will include both permanent and temporary

loss of fishing grounds, fisheries habitats (and resources), spawning or nursery grounds at the

northern Chek Lap Kok waters due to the proposed land formation works, diversion of submarine

cables, site investigation (SI) within SCLKCMP and construction of a temporary floating platform

for the submarine pipeline diversion works, the provision of approach lights at two ends of the

third runway, and provision of lighted marks and beacons along the boundaries of the future

HKIAAA. The major marine construction activities and the related direct fisheries impacts are

identified in the following sections.

14.6.2.2 There will be an approximate 672 ha of seabed habitat and marine waters (650 ha land formation

footprint + 22 ha of seawall construction – 10 ha of existing seawall to be demolished + 10 ha of

scour apron) to be lost due to the land formation and seawall construction. There will also be a

temporary works area of approximately 981 ha for the land formation works (Drawing No.

MCL/P132/EIA/4-008). The marine works will affect the fishing activities in the northern Chek Lap

Kok waters due to the confinement of works area that will cause loss of fishing grounds. The

installation of geotextile, sand blanket, ground improvement works and land formation works will

cause direct loss of fisheries resources and habitats.

14.6.2.3 A portion of the land formation footprint will encroach to the spawning grounds of commercial

fisheries resources at northern Chek Lap Kok waters delineated by previous study. Therefore,

there is a potential of direct impact on the spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources.

14.6.2.4 The diversion of submarine 11 kV cables will involve water jetting and open trench activities.

Perturbation of seabed will result and may cause direct impact on the fisheries resources and

habitats. The construction activities will also cause temporary loss of fishing grounds.

14.6.2.5 There will be a need for an advance site investigation within SCLKCMP prior to the submarine

pipeline diversion works. Approximate four boreholes of size around 0.12 m2 (0.03 m

2 x 4) will be

drilled for taking samples for facilitating the detailed design. Temporary disturbance of seabed will

be resulted that may cause direct loss of fishing grounds and fisheries habitats (and resources).

14.6.2.6 A temporary floating platform formed by two to three barges is proposed to be set up between the

Sha Chau Island and the AFRF (where the water is in the order of 4 m deep) to provide a working

platform for pipeline welding and fabrication in order to minimise direct impacts to Sha Chau

Island. This construction method for the temporary platform would not require any removal or

disturbance of marine sediments from the seabed. However, it will cause temporary loss of

fishing grounds.

14.6.2.7 Approximate 11 flashed approach lights will be constructed at two ends of the third runway by

bore piling. Approximate 108 m2 (4.9 m

2 x 11 x 2) seabed and marine waters will be lost. This will

cause direct loss of fisheries habitats (and resources) and fishing ground.

14.6.2.8 The operation of 3RS will require an extension of HKIAAA for security purposes. There will be an

approximate of 9 lighted marks and beacons to be installed at the boundaries of the future

HKIAAA that will cause loss of seabed and marine waters. The loss of seabed and marine waters


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for the lighted marks and beacons will cause direct loss of fisheries habitats (and resources) and

fishing ground.

Indirect Impacts

14.6.2.9 There may be indirect construction related impacts on capture and aquaculture fisheries

associated with the construction of the land formations and the associated changes to water

quality, underwater noise impacts, confinement of works area and increase in marine traffic in the

study area. A summary of the potential indirect construction phase impacts on fisheries resources

and activities is provided as follows:

� Elevation of suspended solids during ground improvement and land formation, bored piling for

the new approach lights, lighted marks and beacons, diversion of the existing aviation fuel

submarine pipeline and diversion of the submarine cables including minor excavation works at

the field joint locations, which can cause clogging of gills of the fishes and smothering of

crustaceans and mollusks that rely on filter feeding;

� Reduction in dissolved oxygen in marine waters due to presence of elevated suspended solids

and cause an increase in metabolic rate for the fish or cause suffocation to die;

� Potential release of contaminants from pore water during Deep Cement Mixing (DCM) process

and surcharge, especially at location around the existing contaminated mud pits;

� Release of nutrients and other contaminants from sediments from the above works that may

have adverse effects on fishes;

� Risk of oil or chemical spills, including from construction phase vessels accidents, on fisheries

resources;

� Impacts to fisheries resources from the importation and transportation of marine fill and filling

activities;

� Disturbance of fishing activities due to increase in construction barges and vessels utilizing the

northern Lantau waters; and

� Underwater sound generated from construction activities may deter fish from important

feeding and spawning grounds or cause stress-induced reduction in growth and reproductive

output.

14.6.2.10 Details of the construction phase fisheries impact prediction and evaluation are provided in

Section 14.7.1.

14.6.3 Operation Phase

Direct Impacts

14.6.3.1 Upon the completion of land formation works and associated approach lights, lighted marks and

beacons, there will be a permanent loss of fishing ground/ fisheries habitats (and resources) as

identified in the construction phase. There will also be a permanent loss of fishing ground due to

the extension of HKIAAA which restrict vessel entry for security purposes. The change in


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coastline will potentially change the hydrology of surrounding marine waters and directly affect

the distribution of fisheries resources.

Indirect Impacts

14.6.3.2 Indirect operation phase fisheries impacts would be associated with the potential oil or chemical

spills from the operation of the airport expansion, the extension of HKIAAA for security purposes

and discharges from the operation of the airport expansion. A summary of the potential indirect

operation phase impacts on fisheries activities and fisheries resources is provided as follows:

� Impact on fisheries resources due to indirect impact by oil or chemical spills from the operation

of the airport expansion;

� Indirect disturbance of fisheries habitats due to deterioration of water quality from storm water

runoff, sewage effluent discharge, spent cooling discharge, fuel spillage, maintenance

dredging of the navigable waters north of HKIA;

� Potential physical damage to fisheries resources, in particular juvenile fishes and crustaceans

impingement on screen and entrainment of fish eggs and larvae due to seawater intakes to

satisfy cooling demand for new facilities associated with the 3RS;

� Potential change in fisheries resources distribution due to change in hydrodynamic regime of

the adjacent waters and subsequent changes in water quality;

� Disturbance of marine fishes due to aircraft noise; and

� Potential positive impact due to the extension of HKIAAA as fisheries “No-take-zone”

14.6.3.3 Details of the operation phase fisheries impact prediction and evaluation are provided in Section

14.7.2.

14.7 Prediction and Evaluation of Impacts

14.7.1 Construction Phase

14.7.1.1 The potential impacts of the proposed project on fisheries identified in Section 14.6.2 are

predicted and evaluated in the following sections.

Direct Impacts associated with Land Formation and other Marine Works

Direct Loss of Fishing Ground

14.7.1.2 The proposed land formation for the third runway comprises around 650 ha of area above the

high water mark. Works include the modification and integration of the existing seawall at the

northern, western and eastern sides of the existing North Runway into the land formation area

and the reprovisioning of a new seawall around the land formation area. The land formation area

will be divided into a number of works areas with general sequence or methods by placing sand

blanket on the seabed, conducting ground improvement works, constructing a minimum of 200 m

leading seawall to confine the works area and depositing marine fill. There will also be a

temporary works area of approximately 981 ha for the land formation works (Drawing MCL-


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P132-EIA-4-008). Based on the tentative construction programme, the sand blanket laying/

marine filling works will be carried out in phases from late 2015/ early 2016 to late 2021, with

majority of the works completed by late 2018. Of the existing HKIAAA around the existing North

Runway of around 490 ha that fishing vessels are prohibited to enter, around 240 ha is within the

proposed land formation footprint. Therefore, the net area of permanent loss of fishing ground on-

site upon completion of land formation of the project will be around 410 ha (650 ha – 240 ha).

14.7.1.3 The diversion of submarine 11 kV cables will require excavation of seabed in the field joint area to

expose a section of the existing cable for connection to the newly laid cable. The field joint area to

be excavated is approximately 120 m in length and 32 m in width. The approximate area of

temporary fishing ground loss on-site due to the excavation is therefore around 0.38 ha (120 m x

32 m = 3,840 m2). The new submarine cable will be laid by water jetting method, which will

occupy a total area of around 6 km in length and about 0.45 m in width. Therefore, approximately

0.27 ha (6 km x 0.45 m = 2,700 m2) of fishing ground will be temporarily affected on-site due to

the water jetting works. The cable diversion works will be conducted between 2015 and 2016

tentatively. The seabed will be reinstated upon completion of the diversion works.

14.7.1.4 There will be approximately 11 flashing approach lights supported by piers to be constructed

approximately 300 m offshore from both ends of the proposed third runway (Drawing No.

MCL/P132/EIA/8-010). The proposed construction method will be by bored piles, with up to

around 4.9 m2 of pile area for each approach light (subject to the detailed design). At locations

within the CMP area, ground improvement by Deep Cement Mixing (DCM) will be conducted prior

to the bored piling activities. It is anticipated that the construction of approach lights will be

completed by 2021 when the proposed third runway will commence its operation (see Section

4.3.1). It is estimated that up to about 108 m2 (4.9 m

2 x 11 x 2) of fishing ground would be lost on-

site construction of the approach lights.

14.7.1.5 As part of the future requirements for operation of the proposed third runway, a new HKIAAA

would be designated at the marine waters surrounding the proposed runway strip. This future

HKIAAA would be a restricted access area where lighted marks and beacons will be positioned

along its boundaries to ward any unauthorised vessels away from the perimeter of HKIAAA.

Lighted marks along the northern edge of the future HKIAAA are proposed for delineating the

future restricted area boundary. In addition, up to nine beacons would also be required along the

western side of the northern edge of the future HKIAAA (Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/8-011).

14.7.1.6 Based on the initial scheme design, the lighted marks and beacons are anticipated to be installed

on piled structures topped with steel light posts. The pile area for each lighted mark/beacon will

be approximately 0.34 m2. At locations within the CMP area, ground improvement by DCM will be

conducted prior to the piling activities. It is anticipated that the construction of lighted marks and

beacons will be completed by 2021 when the proposed third runway will commence its operation

(see Section 4.3.1). A total fishing ground of up to around 3.1 m2 (0.34 m

2 x 9) will be lost on-site

due to the construction of 9 lighted marks/beacons.

14.7.1.7 To facilitate the detailed design for diversion of the submarine aviation fuel pipelines, marine site

investigation (SI) will first be conducted along the proposed horizontal directional drilling (HDD)

alignment to provide the necessary geotechnical information. A total of four SI boreholes (each

about 0.03 m2 in area) will be drilled within SCLKCMP to bedrock level below the seabed by

drilling vessel / jack-up platform. The drill holes will be backfilled after completion of the SI work.

As the proposed SI works will be completed within a few months, there will be a temporary loss of


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fishing ground on-site of approximately 0.12 m2 (0.03 m

2 x 4) due to this SI works. During the

actual HDD work, the drilling will be largely carried out in the bedrock level (drilling depth will be

largely about 50 m below the seabed) from the west of the existing airport island to the daylighting

point adjacent to the offshore receiving platform at Sha Chau Island for subsequent installation of

the fuel pipelines. A temporary floating working platform of 225 m2 (7.5 m x 30 m) will be

constructed between Sha Chau Island and the offshore receiving platform. It will also be

temporarily in position for about one year while the diversion works are on-going. Therefore, no

permanent loss of any fishing ground would be resulted from the HDD and pipeline installation

works.

14.7.1.8 Table 14-1 summarises the fishing grounds that would potentially be affected due to the various

construction works of the project, based on the tentative construction programme in Appendix 4-

2.

Table 14-1 Summary of fishing grounds directly affected by the construction works

Proposed Construction Works Approximate Size of Fishing Ground to be Affected

Nature of Impact

Land formation and seawall construction

410 ha (650 ha - 240 ha of existing HKIAAA)

Permanent loss upon completion of marine filling works by late 2021

Temporary works area 981 ha Temporary loss during construction but part of the area will become future

extended HKIAAA upon operation of the 3RS project

Diversion of submarine 11 kV cables – excavation at the field joint area

0.38 ha (120 m x 32 m) Temporary loss between 2015 and 2016

Diversion of submarine 11 kV cables – laying of new cable by water jetting

0.27 ha (6 km x 0.45 m) Temporary loss between 2015 and 2016

Approach lights construction – bore piling

108 m2 (4.9 m2 x 11 x 2) Permanent loss upon completion of construction works by 2021

Construction of lighted marks and beacons for the future HKIAAA – bore piling

3.1 m2 (0.34 m2 x 9) Permanent loss upon completion of construction works by 2021

Marine SI at SCLKCMP for submarine aviation fuel pipelines – borehole drilling

0.12 m2 (0.03 m2 x 4) Temporary loss for a few months in 2015

Floating temporary platform for diversion of submarine aviation fuel pipelines

225 m2

(7.5 m x 30 m = 225 m2)

Temporary loss

14.7.1.9 As summarised in Table 14-1, the total (permanent plus temporary) loss of fishing ground during

construction phase is approximately 1,392 ha, which is about 0.9% of the total Hong Kong marine

waters of approximately 162,460 ha (1,651 km2 (or 165,100 ha) of total Hong Kong marine waters

(EPD, 2011) – 1,950 ha of 10 principal fairways – 7.4 ha of core area within Tung Ping Chau

Marine Park – 20 ha of Cape D’Aguilar Marine Reserve – 611 ha of existing HKIAAA around

Chek Lap Kok – 52 ha of existing HKIAAA around the Brothers) available for fishing.

14.7.1.10 Though the proportions in terms of total fishing ground available for fishing is low, but in view of

the scale of the project, and the large size to be temporary and permanently lost, the impact

significance of loss of fishing ground associated with the land formation, construction of approach

lights and lighted marks and beacons for the future HKIAAA, diversion of submarine 11 kV cables,


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marine SI at SCLKCMP for submarine fuel pipelines and floating temporary platform for diversion

of submarine fuel pipelines is considered to be low from the commencement of construction to

moderate upon completion of land formation works.

Direct Loss of Fisheries Habitats (and Resources)

14.7.1.11 The direct loss of habitat for fisheries on-site is estimated as the proposed land formation area

(approximately 650 ha) plus the seawall toe area (about 22 ha) plus the scour apron area (about

10 ha) but excluding the existing seawall toe area (about 10 ha), i.e., 672 ha. Beyond the seawall

toe at the seabed, varying widths of scour aprons of approximate 10 ha will be constructed (the

actual width required for scour protection is subject to detailed design). The scour aprons will be

in the form of stone or gravels. These habitats will provide hard substrates for the re-colonization

of benthic fauna. In addition, there will also be direct fisheries habitat losses due to the various

construction works as described in Section 14.7.1.2 to Section 14.7.1.7 and summarised in

Table 14-2.

Table 14-2 Summary of fisheries habitats directly affected by the construction works

Proposed Construction Works Approximate Size of Fisheries Habitat to be Affected

Nature of Impact

Land formation and seawall construction(1) 672 ha (650 ha + 22 ha + 10 ha – 10 ha)

Permanent loss upon completion of marine filling

works by late 2021

Diversion of submarine 11 kV cables – excavation at the field joint area

0.38 ha (120 m x 32 m) Temporary loss between 2015 and 2016

Diversion of submarine 11 kV cables – laying of new cable by water jetting

0.27 ha (6 km x 0.45 m) Temporary loss between 2015 and 2016

Approach lights construction – bore piling 108 m2 (4.9 m2 x 11 x 2) Permanent loss upon completion of construction

works by 2021

Construction of lighted marks and beacons for the future HKIAAA – bore piling

3.1 m2 (0.34 m2 x 9) Permanent loss upon completion of construction

works by 2021

Marine SI at SCLKCMP for submarine aviation fuel pipelines – borehole drilling

0.12 m2 (0.03 m2 x 4) Temporary loss for a few months in 2015

Floating temporary platform for diversion of submarine aviation fuel pipelines

225 m2

(7.5 m x 30 m = 225 m2)

Temporary loss

Note (1): While a works area for the land formation works will be designated (see Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/4-008), it should be noted that this area will be enclosed with only floating booms being deployed and the working barges will only work close to the proposed footprint. Thus, the marine waters within the works area can still be utilised by fisheries resources and would not be considered as habitat loss.

14.7.1.12 As summarised in Table 14-2, the total (permanent plus temporary) loss of fisheries habitat

during construction phase is approximately 673 ha, which is about 0.4% of the total Hong Kong

marine waters of approximately 1,651 km2 (or 165,100 ha) of total Hong Kong marine waters

(EPD, 2011) as fisheries habitat.

14.7.1.13 The land formation works, construction of approach lights, lighted marks and beacons, diversion

of submarine cables and SI works for submarine aviation fuel pipelines diversion prior to

construction by HDD, and installation of floating temporary platform for the pipelines diversion will

cause direct loss of fisheries resources during the placement of sand blanket, ground

improvement, seawall construction, marine filling activities, water jetting, field joint excavation and

bore hole drilling works. Species that are less mobile will be more susceptible by the above


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activities. The fisheries survey findings suggest that fisheries resources exist both within the

existing HKIAAA and the adjacent waters, and most of the dominant species recorded were of

low or even no commercial values. Sections 14.4.3.18 to 14.4.3.20 summarised that the level of

fisheries resources recorded within the project footprint is low to moderate. The potential loss of

fisheries production of the waters affected by the submarine 11 kV cable diversion works, marine

SI at SCLKCMP for aviation fuel pipelines diversion prior to the construction by HDD and floating

temporary platform for the pipelines diversion works would be insignificant due to its small

temporary fisheries habitat loss (a total of 0.67 ha). When compared to the overall capture

fisheries production in Hong Kong, the estimated loss in production due to the submarine 11 kV

cable diversion works and aviation fuel pipelines diversion works represents a very small portion

(approx. 0.00004% - 0.00008%). Furthermore, since the floating temporary platform will be of

water depth of 4 m (the fisheries resources could still utilise the marine waters underneath the

platform), and does not disturb the seabed, the associated habitat (and resources) loss is

expected to be very small.

14.7.1.14 Based on the Port Survey 2006 findings, the fisheries production within the land formation

footprint is in the range of 100 – 200 kg per ha per year (Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-003),

which is considered to be of low to moderate production. There will be a temporary loss of

approximate 1 ha and permanent loss of approximate 672 ha (650 ha + 22 ha +10 ha – 10 ha) of

fisheries habitats (Table 14-2 refers). When compared to the overall capture fisheries production

of about 170,129 tonnes in 2013 in Hong Kong (AFCD, 2014), the estimated loss (temporary plus

permanent) in production due to the proposed land formation and associated marine works

(approx. 673 ha) represents a very small portion (approx. 0.04 – 0.08 %).

14.7.1.15 There will be progressive increase in direct impact on the fisheries habitat due to the phasing of

land formation works, in which the marine fishes will be displaced to adjacent marine waters.

Though the proportions in terms of total fisheries habitats in Hong Kong is low, but in view of the

scale of the project and the large size to be permanently lost, the impact significance of loss of

fisheries habitats (and resources) associated with the land formation and other marine works is

considered to be low from the commencement of construction to moderate upon completion of

land formation works. For works associated with diversion of submarine cable, marine SI at

SCLKCMP for submarine aviation fuel pipelines diversion prior to HDD construction and floating

temporary platform for pipeline diversion works, the impact significance on direct loss of fisheries

habitats (and resources) is considered of insignificant.

Direct Loss of Spawning or Nursery Grounds

14.7.1.16 The most abundant families recorded for ichthyoplankton and post-larvae survey were of low

commercial value. Two families which comprise mostly species of high commercial value and one

species of high commercial value were identified, namely Cynoglossidae, Sillaginidae and

Hippocampus kuda. Although the ichthyoplankton and post-larvae of these families (except for

post-larvae of Sillaginidae and post-larvae of Hippocampus kuda) were all found within the

proposed land formation footprint, they are mostly with very low abundances and density.

14.7.1.17 According to the Fisheries Resources and Fishing Operations in Hong Kong Waters report

commissioned by AFCD (ERM, 1998), northern waters of Lantau water (approximately 4,961 ha)

was delineated as spawning (but not nursery) ground of fisheries resources (Drawing No.

MCL/P132/EIA/14-001 and Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-009), and main fish species which

reportedly spawn in this area included Shortnose ponyfish, Japanese seabass and Konoshiro


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gizzard shad. Approximately 78 ha of the project footprint will be within this identified spawning

ground (i.e. 1.57% of total area of identified spawning ground). Results of ichthyoplankton and

post-larvae survey indicated that the ichthyoplankton and fish post-larvae density in the study

area was generally low, while fish density or number of fish families between identified spawning

ground (which included monitoring stations at the Brothers, SCLKCMP and northern Chek Lap

Kok) and adjacent areas (which included monitoring stations at project footprint and western

Chek Lap Kok waters) were similar (Appendix 14.3). Therefore, the impact significance of the

loss of 78 ha of identified spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources on-site (which

constitutes a small portion of the total area of identified spawning ground of commercial fisheries

resources in northern Lantau waters) which consist of mostly families of low commercial value, is

considered to be low.

Indirect Disturbance of Fisheries Habitats due to Deterioration of Water Quality

14.7.1.18 Marine works which may cause perturbation in the seabed / water column and consequently

affecting water quality include modification and integration of the existing seawall, ground

improvement, seawall construction and marine filling. These activities can cause sediment plume

thereby increasing sediment suspension within the water column with a consequential

deterioration in water quality both on-site and off-site, which could potentially include increase in

turbidity/ suspended solids (SS), decrease in dissolved oxygen levels and release of

contaminants (especially around the CMP area) to the receiving water column. High SS levels

may clog the gills of fishes and cause suffocation, while the crustaceans or bivalves that rely on

filter feeding will also be affected by an increase in metabolic rate required to clear SS from their

respiratory system. Impacts due to deterioration of water quality which will have indirect impact on

areas in the vicinity of the project footprint, including spawning ground of commercial fisheries

resources in northern Lantau waters, SCLKCMP, ARs at SCLKCMP and proposed ARs at the

planned BMP, Ma Wan Marine FCZ, the planned BMP, area of high production of capture

fisheries off Tai O and oyster production area at Deep Bay mudflat were assessed.

Suspended Solids

14.7.1.19 The release of SS from the proposed land formation works is expected to be a temporary

situation, i.e., mainly between years 2015 and 2017, as substantial completion of the seawall

surrounding the land formation footprint is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017 (see the

key land formation sequence in Appendix 8.4). As a result the potential dispersion of sediment

plumes to the surrounding marine environment would be limited to that period.

14.7.1.20 As detailed in Sections 8.6.4.24, two worst case scenarios, namely, scenarios A and B, have

been selected for modelling of the SS levels in the marine environment during construction phase

of the project. The worst case scenario A refers to Q1 to Q3 of year 2016 when the key

construction activities would be sand blanket laying and ground improvement at open sea

conditions (seawall yet to be built). The worst case scenario B refers to Q4 of 2016 to Q3 of 2017

when the highest sediment loss would be expected due to the highest number of vessels

undertaking ground improvement (via DCM) and marine filling activities with partial seawall

completion.

14.7.1.21 Based on the water quality modelling results (see Table 8.48 and Table 8.49 of Section 8.7.1), it

is predicted that the unmitigated SS level elevation (due to the project only) at spawning ground

of commercial fisheries resources at northern Lantau waters (F2) would be up to respectively


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9.12 mg/L under the worst case scenario A and 3.06 mg/L under the worst case scenario B. An

exceedance of 4.32 mg/L at 0.1% of the time was observed for scenario A at mid-depth in wet

season.

14.7.1.22 At the planned BMP (CR3), the unmitigated SS level elevation would be up to 9.09 mg/L under

the worst case scenario A, and up to respectively 4.56 mg/L under the worst case scenario B. An

exceedance of 1.41 mg/L at bottom level in wet season under the worst case scenario A was

observed. In scenario B, an exceedance of 0.06 mg/L was observed at mid-depth in wet season

while another exceedance of 0.41 mg/L was observed at surface level in dry season. All the

exceedances are at 0.1% of the time.

14.7.1.23 At the Ma Wan Marine Fish Culture Zone (F1), the unmitigated SS level elevation would be up to

1.14 mg/L under the worst case scenario A, and up to respectively 1.90 mg/L under the worst

case scenario B. No exceedance was observed.

14.7.1.24 No SS elevation and exceedance level was observed in both oyster production area at Deep Bay

mudflat (E1) and area of high production of capture fisheries off Tai O (F3).

14.7.1.25 At SCLKCMP, SS is predicted to increase at M4d (maximum level: 39.48 mg/L), M4e (maximum

level: 27.53 mg/L), E5 (maximum level: 2.43 mg/L), CR2 (maximum level: 4.22 mg/L). For the

former two, the predicted SS elevation at M4d is 3.64 – 32.49 mg/L higher than the surface, mid-

depth, bottom and depth-averaged criteria used for WQO at station NM6 (Table 8.21) during wet

season in scenario A and dry season in scenario B, all of which are of low frequency (0.1 – 3.9%).

Similarly results were observed for M4e, for which the worst case SS elevation is 0.10 – 20.54

mg/L higher than the criteria used for WQO at station NM6, all of which are of low frequency

(0.1 – 0.5%). It should be noted that M4d and M4e are only considered as observation points and

not representative water sensitive receivers, and hence are not assessed in Table 8.48 and

Table 8.49. As other monitoring stations within the SCLKCMP (e.g. E5 and CR2) do not show

particularly high elevations or exceedances in SS criteria, the relatively higher SS levels at M4d

and M4e are probably limited to a small area at the southern boundary which is closest to the

construction activities of the project. For the ARs at SCLKCMP (CR2), the unmitigated SS level

elevation would be up to 3.02 mg/L under the worst case scenario A, and up to respectively 4.22

mg/L under the worst case scenario B. No exceedance was observed.

14.7.1.26 In summary, the land formation and seawall construction works may cause impact on water

quality and subsequently disturb the fisheries habitats outside the land formation footprint. The

potential impact is considered temporary, as the seawall construction would be substantially

completed by the end of 2017, which would effectively limit the sediment plume dispersal. The

water modelling results (Section 8.7.1) show that under the unmitigated worst case scenarios,

the predicted cumulative SS levels at SCLKCMP, spawning grounds for commercial fisheries

resources at northern Lantau waters identified in previous study and area with high production of

capture fisheries at Tai O would mostly be within WQO criterion for SS elevation.

Dissolved Oxygen Depletion

14.7.1.27 The dissolved oxygen (DO) depletion due to the release of sediment from the water jetting and

excavation activities associated with the submarine cable diversion was calculated and presented

in Table 8.65 of Section 8.7.1. The findings showed that the DO depletion levels due to the

above works at Tai O area with high production of capture fisheries (F3), the planned BMP (CR3),


14-28


and the artificial reefs at SCLKCMP (CR2) are up to respectively 3.60E-03 mg/L, 5.64E-03 mg/L

and 9.79E-02 mg/L, which are insignificant. The depth averaged DO levels at the above sites of

fisheries importance are predicted to be above 6.30 mg/L, 5.30 mg/L and 6.10 mg/L respectively,

which are all within the DO criterion of >4 mg/L. Therefore, no appreciable changes in the

baseline depth-average DO concentration would be anticipated due to elevated SS arising from

the water jetting and excavation works.

Nutrients and Other Contaminants

14.7.1.28 To assess the potential release of nutrients and other contaminants during water jetting and

excavation activities associated with the submarine cable diversion, elutriate tests were

conducted for sediment samples collected along the new cable alignment and at the field joint

location. The criteria taken for metals and non-nutrients are from Table 8.27, which are based on

relevant overseas water quality criteria on environmental quality standards for shellfish waters,

criteria maximum concentration (CMC) and criterion continuous concentration (CCC). The CMC

and CCC are estimates of the highest concentration of a material in ambient water to which an

aquatic community can be exposed briefly (for CMC) or indefinitely (for CCC) without resulting in

an unacceptable adverse effect. For nutrients, the 90th percentile values from baseline

monitoring results of EPD’s marine water quality monitoring stations in the North Western WCZ

were adopted, which indicated 90% of the time, the concentrations are below these levels.

Detailed findings at individual sites of fisheries importance are presented in Table 8.67 and Table

8.68 under Section 8.7.1. The modelling results show that concentrations of all contaminants at

the spawning grounds of commercial fisheries resources in northern Lantau waters (F2), Tai O

area with high production of capture fisheries (F3), the planned BMP (CR3) and the artificial

reefs at SCLKCMP (CR2) off-site are below the relevant criteria or baseline.

Release of Contaminants from Pore Water during DCM Process and Surcharge

14.7.1.29 To determine the types and concentrations of contaminants that may be released from pore water

at both the CMP and non-CMP areas, pore water tests have been conducted as part of the

Sediment Sampling and Testing Plan (SSTP) for this project. The pore water content extracted

from vibrocore samples in the laboratory showed that pore water comprised at most 1.3% of the

whole sample volume. Details of the pore water testing findings and the water quality modelling

results at individual sensitive receivers are presented in Table 8.69 under Section 8.7.1.

14.7.1.30 The findings from the tracer dilution model show that even with the assumption of 100% release

of pore water during the DCM process, and potential release of contaminants from pore water

during the surcharge process, the concentrations of all contaminants predicted at the spawning

grounds of commercial fisheries resources in northern Lantau waters (F2), Tai O area with high

production of capture fisheries (F3), the planned BMP (CR3) and artificial reefs at SCLKCMP

(CR2) off-site would be well below the relevant criteria or baseline.

14.7.1.31 In summary, SS elevation would mostly comply with the relevant criteria. In addition, the

calculated dissolved oxygen concentration, nutrients and other contaminants would also comply

with the relevant criteria that no unacceptable adverse impacts on marine fauna be observed.

Therefore adverse impacts due to potential SS elevation, depleted oxygen and release of

contaminants on the sites of fisheries importance during the construction period are considered to

be insignificant.


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Oil / Chemical Spillage

14.7.1.32 Spillage of oil and chemicals from construction vessels accidents or leakage of petroleum from

construction plants, could release liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the marine environment and

cause pollution. Oil spills may cause short term and long term impact on marine fishes. It may

cause large-scale death of fish by poisoning or bioaccumulation of toxic materials in the internal

organ of the fish and may affect breeding success that indirectly affect fisheries production.

Impacts may also include oil or petroleum clogging up of fish gills that cause the fish suffocate to

die. The risk of oil / chemical spillage will increase with marine traffic. However, as the

construction vessels will travel at slow speed, and will mostly be routed to travel from west and

south around Lung Kwu Chau instead of through Urmston Road, the risk of vessel collision and

cause oil / chemical spillage will be lowered. The impact is considered to be insignificant.

Importation and Transportation of Marine Fill and Filling Activities

14.7.1.33 According to Appendix 13.13, the existing and projected marine traffic activities during

construction and operation phases, the importation and transportation of marine fill will be

principally come from the west of the airport to minimise the impact on existing marine traffic

(Figure 4 and Figure 5 of Appendix 13.13). There may be a potential of fill materials runoff to the

marine waters during transportation and cause indirect impact along the transportation routes and

adjacent waters. However, as part of the general good housekeeping, the barges or hoppers shall

not be filled to a level which will cause overflow of materials or pollution of water during loading or

transportation. Plants should not be operated with leaking pipes and adequate freeboard shall be

maintained on barges to reduce the likelihood of decks being washed by wave action. All vessels

shall also be sized with adequate clearance maintained between vessels and the seabed at all

states of the tide to ensure that undue turbidity is not generated by turbulence from vessel

movement or propeller wash. With the implementation of this good site practices, the potential

impact of fill materials runoff due to importation and transportation of marine fill on marine fishes

is considered be low.

Indirect Impact on Aquaculture Sites

14.7.1.34 The nearest aquaculture site to the project is Ma Wan Marine FCZ, which is of size approximate

13,200 m2 (Appendix 14.5) at around 13 km to the east of the proposed land formation footprint.

The other aquaculture site within the study area is the oyster production areas, which is located

approximately 14 km to the north of the land formation footprint along the mudflat area at Deep

Bay. The size for the oyster rafts at Lau Fau Shan is approximate 64 ha (5,000 rafts x 8 m x 16 m)

(Appendix 14.5). According to the water modeling results under the worst case scenarios (Table

8.48 and Table 8.49 of Section 8.7.1), the unmitigated SS level at Ma Wan Marine FCZ (F1)

(due to the project only) would be up to 1.14 mg/L for scenario A and 1.90 mg/L for scenario B,

whereas the unmitigated SS level at the oyster production area would be undetectable. Such

predicted levels are well below 50 mg/L, which is the criterion derived from the international

marine water quality guidelines for the protection of ecosystems (CCPC, 2001) and

recommended by AFCD as references on the fish culture zones.

14.7.1.35 The estimated DO depletion at Ma Wan Marine FCZ due to the water jetting and excavation

works would be up to 1.58E-03 mg/L, with depth averaged DO level not lower than 5.20 mg/L.

Therefore, there would be neither appreciable changes in DO concentration from baseline nor

exceedance of the WQO criteria for DO.


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14.7.1.36 The impact significance of the potential indirect off-site impact on aquaculture sites is considered

to be insignificant.

Indirect Impact on Artificial Reefs

14.7.1.37 The Chek Lap Kok artificial reefs (ARs) at the east of the proposed land formation area is

anticipated to be impacted by the nearby construction activities for Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link

and the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities projects as a result of potential elevation of SS

that may cause exceedance of SS criterion. New ARs will be reprovision by the above projects

but details of the proposed location to be deployed is yet to be confirmed. Thus the Chek Lap Kok

ARs is not considered as a site of fisheries importance for this study. However, the artificial reefs

proposed to be reprovisioned at the planned marine park at the Brothers and the existing ARs at

the Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park may be subject to indirect water quality impact

due to this project.

14.7.1.38 There are no established legislative criteria for water quality for protecting artificial reefs or corals.

Hawker and Connell (1992) suggested that the sedimentation rate higher than 200 g/m2/day

would introduce moderate to high impact upon all corals. This limit was adopted as the

assessment criterion for protecting the corals and artificial reefs that may provide habitat for

corals and fisheries in this study. In addition, an elevation criterion of SS levels less than 30% of

ambient baseline conditions has also been adopted as the critical value, above which impacts to

the habitat may occur. This criterion has been adopted in previously approved EIA reports for

assessing SS impacts on corals.

14.7.1.39 Based on the water quality modelling results, it is predicted that the unmitigated sedimentation

rate (due to the project only) at the hard corals recorded at the Brothers and the Tai Mo To waters

(CR3) would be up to 11.21 g/m2/day under the worst case scenario A and up to 4.61 g/m

2/day

under the worst case scenario B. Both sedimentation values are well below the criterion that may

introduce adverse impact upon corals. The unmitigated SS levels (due to the project only) at such

locations under the worst case scenarios A and B are up to respectively 9.09 mg/L and 4.56 mg/L,

which are mostly within the corresponding WQO, except for 0.1% time in wet season at bottom

level under scenario A, and 0.1% time in wet season at mid-depth level and 0.1% time in dry

season at surface level at west of the Brothers under scenario B that may receive SS

exceedance. Thereby, the impact significance on these artificial reefs due to the land formation

works is anticipated to be low.

14.7.1.40 The maximum SS elevation levels at SCLKCMP Artificial Reefs (CR2) are within the assessment

criterion of SS levels under the WQO (i.e. <30% of ambient baseline conditions) at all depth

levels in both wet and dry seasons. The highest sedimentation rate estimated at SCLKCMP is

10.76 g/m2/day, which is below 200 g/m

2/day. Thereby, the impact significance on these artificial

reefs due to the land formation works is anticipated to be low.

Disturbance of Fishing Activities

14.7.1.41 The fisheries interview survey findings indicated that most of the fishing vessels operating in the

northern Lantau waters are small vessels that are less than 15 m in length. The implementation of

the trawl ban will prohibit all trawlers operating in Hong Kong waters, but sampans which are the

dominant types of vessels in the study area would not be affected. The impact may include

conflict among various types of marine users travelling along the northern Chek Lap Kok waters


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that may be induced by the increase in construction vessels for the proposed project. As the

proposed land formation works will reduce the fishing area for the fishermen operating small

vessels, the fishermen may need to select alternative fishing grounds which are further away from

their homeports.

14.7.1.42 During the construction stage, large numbers of construction barges and other vessels will be

required during the formation of the new land for the 3RS project. The daily average barge

movements during the construction works are shown in Figure 4, Appendix 13.13, with the daily

average number of construction vessel movements to and from the west of the works area being

42, and to and from the east of the works area being 22. During peak construction periods, these

numbers would increase to about 120 and 60 vessel movements daily, respectively (Figure 5,

Appendix 13.13). In addition, there will be about a peak of 120 stationary vessels located within

the works area which will house the land formation plant and equipment, with an average of about

100 vessels anticipated to be working within the works area during the peak periods from 2016

Q2 to 2017 Q4. As these vessels will not be moving overall and will stay within the works area,

they would not cause disturbance to fisheries activities outside the works boundary.

14.7.1.43 The most affected fishing operations by the conflict of uses of marine waters to the north of the

construction area for the 3RS, would be those with existing operations at the northern Chek Lap

Kok waters. According to the fisheries interview surveys findings and Port Survey 2006 for all

vessels, a low to moderate number of fishing vessels of around 50 – 400 vessels using northern

Chek Lap Kok waters and vicinity of the project footprint were recorded (Drawing No.

MCL/P132/EIA/14-006). However, as the majority of fishing vessels are small-sized vessels (i.e.

sampan) with high manipulation ability and also utilise other fishing grounds, these vessels are

less sensitive to disturbance from marine traffic.

14.7.1.44 The waters within the concerned area are used by fishing vessels at low to moderate levels (50-

400 vessels). Given the high mobility of the fishing vessels and designated routes of construction

vessels to be implemented as good site practices, it is considered that the disturbance on fishing

activities would be low during the construction phase. No specific mitigation measure for the

impact on fishing activities will be required.

Disturbance to Fisheries Resources associated with Underwater Sound

14.7.1.45 The increase in marine traffic due to construction vessels, the ground improvement works as well

as the construction activities for the approach lights, lighted marks and beacons for the proposed

third runway by bored piling may generate underwater sound that may deter fish from important

feeding and spawning grounds or cause stress-induced reduction in growth and reproductive

output.

14.7.1.46 The underwater noise emitted by marine vessels is in the frequency range of 0.02 kHz to 10 kHz

(BMT, 2009). Anthropogenic noises generated by marine construction (including piling) and

vessels activities are generally in the frequency range of 30 Hz – 5 kHz (Slabbekoorn et al., 2010).

The hearing range of fishes is around 50 Hz to 1.5 kHz, while some species with special

adaptations can detect sounds up to 3 kHz – 5 kHz (Popper and Hastings, 2009; Slabbekoorn et

al., 2010).

14.7.1.47 During the construction phase, increase in marine traffic from construction vessels may cause

disturbance to fishes in the study area through the generation of underwater noise. Some effects


14-32


caused by sound on fishes include mortality, physical injury, auditory tissue damage, temporary

threshold shift, behavioural changes, egg viability and larval growth (Popper and Hastings, 2009).

However, Slabbekoorn et al. (2010) advised that there are few studies suggesting negative

correlations between the presence of noise and the presence of fish. There are also limited

studies indicating the potential reproductive consequences of anthropogenic noise on fish

spawning activities, masking effects on communicative sounds and predator-prey relationships.

Fishes sometimes congregate, seeking shelter or food at places with artificially high noise levels.

The greater impact on fishes will be from less intense sounds that are of longer duration.

14.7.1.48 Underwater percussive piling work will not be adopted for the project, but some vibratory sheet

piling may be needed for some aspects of the construction. Information on noise produced by

percussive piling is available (Würsig et al., 2000), but very little information has been published

about noise and effects of vibratory piling. However, vibratory piling is undoubtedly much quieter

than percussive piling and has less potential to cause disturbance to fisheries resources.

14.7.1.49 The proposed bored piling activities for the construction of approach lights, lighted marks and

beacons will last for several weeks. The bored piling areas are very small – a total of

approximately 108 m2 for 11 approach lights and approximately 3.1 m

2 for 9 lighted marks/

beacons. In view of the very small bored piling areas and the availability of suitable marine

habitats nearby, the short-term bored piling activities would cause minimal disturbance to the

surrounding marine fishes. The impact significance is anticipated to be low.

14.7.2 Operation Phase

14.7.2.1 During the operation phase, potential impacts include permanent fishing ground/ fisheries habitat

losses due to the proposed land formation and the associated structures and new HKIAAA as

discussed in the construction phase, permanent changes in hydrodynamics and tidal influence on

fisheries resources and indirect disturbance due to surface runoff and cooling water discharges to

the adjacent waters. There may be impact of permanent disturbance of fishing activities due to

conflict with users along the realigned channel between the future HKIAAA and SCLKCMP. The

potential impacts of the proposed project on fisheries identified in Section 14.6.3 are predicted

and evaluated in the following sections.

Direct Loss of Fishing Grounds

14.7.2.2 As discussed under the construction phase impact, there will be permanent loss of 410 ha of

fishing ground upon completion of the proposed land formation. During future operation of the

proposed third runway by 2021, however, a new HKIAAA (approximately 358 ha, the extent of the

new HKIAAA is indicative and subject to change upon further design development that the new

HKIAAA will follow the boundary as stipulated in CAP 313A Shipping and Port Control

Regulations) will be designated where no fishing vessels will be allowed to enter. Therefore, the

total fishing ground loss during operation phase will amount to 768 ha (410 ha + 358 ha), as

summarised in Table 14-3 This total permanent loss of fishing ground is about 0.5% of the total

Hong Kong marine waters approximately 162,460 ha available for fishing.

Table 14-3 Summary of direct fishing ground loss during operation phase

Permanent Structures Approximate Size of Fishing Ground to be Affected

Nature of Impact

Land formation footprint as well 768 ha (650 ha – 240 ha of Permanent loss upon completion of land


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Permanent Structures Approximate Size of Fishing Ground to be Affected

Nature of Impact

as the future HKIAAA existing HKIAAA + 358 ha of new HKIAAA)

formation works and establishment of new HKIAAA by late 2021

Approach lights for third runway 108 m2 (4.9 m2 x 11 x 2)* Permanent loss upon completion of construction works by 2021

Lighted marks and beacons for future HKIAAA

3.1 m2 (0.34 m2 x 9)* Permanent loss upon completion of construction works by 2021

*Note: These areas are within the 358 ha of new HKIAAA.

14.7.2.3 In view of the large size of fishing ground to be permanently loss and the large scale of the

project, the impact significance of direct loss of fishing ground on-site is considered to be

moderate during operation of the project. Mitigation measure is considered required.

Direct Loss of Fisheries Habitat (and Resources)

14.7.2.4 Similar to the construction phase impact as discussed earlier, there will be permanent loss of 672

ha of fisheries habitat due to the proposed land formation (650 ha) and seawall toe construction

(22 ha) and scour apron (10 ha) for the project excluding the existing seawall toe that will be

demolished (10 ha), 108 m2 marine habitat for the future approach lights (see Section 14.7.1.4

for details) and 3.1 m2 for the lighted marks and beacons for demarcation of the future HKIAAA

boundary. Table 14-4 summarises the fisheries habitats that will be lost during the operation

phase. The total loss of 672 ha, which is about 0.4% of the total Hong Kong marine waters of

approximately 1,651 km2 (or 165,100 ha) of total Hong Kong marine waters (EPD, 2011) as

fisheries habitat, is considered to be of low proportion in terms of the total area of fisheries

habitats available in Hong Kong.

14.7.2.5 Though the proportions in terms of total fisheries habitats in Hong Kong is very low, but in view of

the scale of the project and the large size to be permanently lost, the impact significance of loss

of fisheries habitats (and resources) associated with the land formation and other marine works is

considered to be moderate upon completion of land formation works.The existing artificial seawall

along the northern coast of existing airport island (about 5.9 km in length) will be lost during the

proposed land formation work. However, the lost seawall will then be reprovisioned by similar but

longer (13 km in length) artificial seawall along the future land formation coastline. The loss of 5.9

km seawall habitat is considered of low significance in the operation phase. Overall, the impact

significance of the direct loss of fisheries habitat is considered as moderate.

Table 14-4 Summary of direct fisheries habitat loss during operation phase

Permanent Structures Approximate Size of Fisheries Habitats to be Affected

Nature of Impact

Land formation footprint and seawall toe footprint

672 ha (650 ha + 22 ha + 10 ha – 10 ha)

Permanent loss upon completion of marine filling works by late 2021

Approach lights for third runway

108 m2 (4.9 m2 x 11 x 2) Permanent loss upon completion of construction works by 2021

Lighted marks and beacons for future HKIAAA

3.1 m2 (0.34 m2 x 9) Permanent loss upon completion of construction works by 2021

Direct Loss of Spawning or Nursery Grounds

14.7.2.6 As mentioned in construction phase, the northern waters of Lantau water (approximately 4,961 ha)

was delineated as spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources (Drawing No.


14-34


MCL/P132/EIA/14-001). Approximately 78 ha of the project footprint will be within this identified

spawning ground (i.e. 1.57% of total area of identified spawning ground). There is no marked

difference between fish density or number of fish families detected between identified spawning

ground of commercial fisheries resources in northern Lantau (including the Brothers, SCLKCMP

and northern Chek Lap Kok waters) and the adjacent areas (including project footprint and

western Chek Lap Kok waters) (Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/14-009), and most of the

ichthyoplankton and post-larvae come from families of low commercial value, that only a few

individuals from families of high commercial value (Cynoglossidae, Sillaginidae and Hippocampus

kuda) were caught within the proposed land formation footprint, SCLKCMP, the Brothers and the

northern Chek Lap Kok waters of low abundance and density. As such, the loss of 78 ha of

identified spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources (which constitutes a small portion of

the total area of identified spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources in northern Lantau

waters) is considered to be of low significance.

Change in Hydrodynamics and Tidal Influence

14.7.2.7 The seawall construction as part of land formation works is scheduled to complete by late 2021,

but majority of the marine filling activities would be completed by late 2018. The newly formed

land may cause changes to the hydrodynamic flow regime in surrounding waters including the

Pearl River Estuary.

14.7.2.8 Tidal flow simulations for the Year 2026 has been undertaken to identify the changes resulting

from operation of the project versus the base scenario in the absence of the project. Details of the

plots comparing the “with” and “without” project scenarios are shown in Appendix 8.14 of

Chapter 8. Based on the water quality modelling result as presented in Table 8.72, it can be

generally seen that the changes in peak tidal discharges, including both increases and decreases,

are relatively small after implementation of the project as compared to the base scenario for all

locations except the east of airport channel. Details of the water quality impact assessment

associated with the changes to hydrodynamic regime are presented in Section 8.7.2. Impact

assessment relevant to fisheries are summarised below.

14.7.2.9 As identified in the water quality impact assessment that more significant changes are identified

for the flow through the east of airport channel. The high percentage difference in residual flows

during dry season is largely due to the very low residual flow volumes that occur in this area and

does not represent significant changes in the residual flow (in absolute terms), however, the

general reductions in peak flow in both directions during both wet and dry season may indicate a

tendency towards reduced flushing and assimilative capacity of the water body. However, the

water quality results do not appear to show significant deteriorations in water quality in this area

despite the reduced flows (refer to the results for DO, BOD5, TIN, NH3 and SS shown in

Appendix 8.15). Thus it is not anticipated that the flow reductions will significantly affect water

quality in this area.

14.7.2.10 For assessment of local effects due to the project, flow velocities at individual sites of fisheries

importance locations (F1 – Ma Wan Marine Fish Culture Zone; F2 – spawning grounds of

commercial fisheries resources in northern Lantau waters; F3 – high production of capture

fisheries at Tai O; CR2 – AR at Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park; and CR3 – the

planned BMP) were summarised in Appendix 8.14 (Table 1) for the with and without project

scenarios. The results show generally minimal changes in flow velocities at most sites of fisheries

importance especially for dry season (<0.1 m/s), which suggests that the project would not induce


14-35


significant changes to the hydrodynamic regime at most locations. Areas showing more

significant changes in peak velocity (e.g. >0.2 m/s) are generally areas immediately surrounding

the project (e.g. the area immediately north of the airport at F2 and the embayed areas to the

west of the airport). As species recorded in the northern Chek Lap Kok waters and adjacent

waters did not show significant difference in species abundance, the impact significance on the

change in hydrodynamic flow is anticipated to be low. For the western waters of existing airport,

though the peak velocity shows more significant changes, the future embayed areas to the

extension of the airport would provide a slower flow region that is similar to the condition without

the project in place, thus provide similar habitats for the fisheries resources. The impact

significance on the change in hydrodynamics and flow regime are considered to be low.

Disturbance of Fishing Activities

14.7.2.11 As HKIAAA will be restricted to any unauthorised vessel entry including fishing vessels, while the

existing SCLKCMP is also restricted to fishing except with permission granted by the AFCD. The

remaining northern Lantau waters where fishing operations are possible will also be used by

other vessels such as high speed ferries, cargo vessels and barges to and from Macao/ the

Mainland. As a result, there would be increased conflict of uses in such reduced marine waters

among different users during the operation phase, hence resulting in indirect disturbance of

fishing activities in the northern Lantau waters.

14.7.2.12 The findings of fishermen surveys and Port Survey 2006 indicated that fishing activities at the

northern Lantau waters were around 50 – 400 vessels. This is considered of low to moderate

usage. The fisheries interview survey findings indicated that fishermen operating at the northern

Lantau waters would also go to southern, western and eastern Lantau waters for capture fisheries

(Appendix 14.4).

14.7.2.13 As the proportion of fisheries production to be affected in each year would be small as mentioned

in the construction phase impact, the low to moderate usage by fishing operation at the northern

Chek Lap Kok waters, the high mobility of the fishing vessels, and the designated route for the

SkyPier high speed ferries (HSFs) under the jurisdiction of AAHK that will reduce the risk of

vessels collision and conflict, it is considered that the indirect disturbance of fishing activities due

to the operation of 3RS and the future extension of HKIAAA would be of low significance. No

specific mitigation measure for the disturbance of fisheries activities is considered required, but

mitigation measures for Chinese White Dolphin impacts including the speed restriction and

diversion of SkyPier HSFs would also further minimise the disturbance impact on fisheries

activities.

Indirect Disturbance of Fisheries Habitats due to Deterioration of Water Quality

Storm Water Runoff

14.7.2.14 There may be potentially polluted storm water runoff from the expanded airport operation to the

adjacent marine waters. Contaminants may include hydrocarbons, chemicals and SS runoff. The

amount of these pollutants entering marine waters would be limited, due to good housekeeping

and silt-grease traps installation as part of standard drainage system design which will minimise

pollutants runoff to surrounding marine waters. The impact significance is considered as

insignificant.


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Sewage Effluent Discharge

14.7.2.15 Sewage effluent would be generated from a range of activities at HKIA including from the airport-

based workforce, passengers, staff and other visitors using airport facilities, food and beverage

outlets, offices and hotels, as well as from certain maintenance activities in HKIA. Foul sewage

would be disposed to the public sewerage system and transferred to the Siu Ho Wan Sewage

Treatment Works (SHWSTW) for treatment. Wastewater collected from kitchens, washroom sinks,

and aircraft catering and cleaning activities will be treated at the greywater treatment facilities

onsite for reuse in landscape irrigation or cleansing related activities and any surplus discharge of

treated greywater will divert to the foul sewer as is currently the case at HKIA. As such, there will

be no sewage outfall at HKIA and no discharge of sewage effluent from HKIA into the marine

environment. No adverse water quality impact on fisheries due to sewage disposal is anticipated.

Spent Cooling Discharge

14.7.2.16 Cooling water discharges may cause elevation of water temperature, discharge of residual amine

and chlorine that may pose impacts on the marine environment and marine fishes. Elevation of

water temperature may increase the metabolic rate of the marine fauna and increase the

dissolved oxygen depletion rate. Temperature may also affect early development and nutrient

dynamics for marine fishes (Wen et al.,2013). Free chlorine and chloramine toxicity may cause

behavioural aberrations for marine fishes, including distended gills and erratic swimming

behaviour and reduction in respiration rates if concentrations approaching lethal levels (Capuzzo

et al., 1977).

14.7.2.17 The findings from the hydrodynamic model on spent cooling discharges showed non-

exceedances of surface temperature during both wet and dry season with and without the project

in place (Table 1 of Appendix 8.16). This confirms there are no impacts due to temperature

associated with the spent cooling discharges from the project.

14.7.2.18 The findings on the predicted maximum depth-averaged residual chlorine levels (Table 2 of

Appendix 8.16) show that there was no exceedance at all representative site of fisheries

importance on the criteria adopted for assessment. The locations with notably elevated residual

chlorine levels are at the eastern coast of the airport island adjacent to the outfall No.7, outfall

No.14 and outfall No.8 (Drawing No. MCL/P132/EIA/8-008). The predicted maximum

concentration of the chlorine level is around 0.0563 mg/L. Under the worst case tidal period, the

maximum extent of the mixing zone for residual chlorine release is approximately 260 m from

outfall No.7 (as shown in Appendix 8.16 (Figure 21)), and approximately 550 m from outfall

No.14 (as shown in Appendix 8.16 (Figure 20)). Discharge from outfall No.8 is due to the

concurrent North Commercial District project which is not part of 3RS, hence the mixing zone

associated with this outfall is due to the concurrent project only and is not related to the 3RS

project.

14.7.2.19 The criteria is based on the more stringent USEPA Criterion Continuous Concentration (CCC)

limit of 0.0075 mg/l, which is a very conservative limit compared to EPD’s No Observable Effect

Concentration (NOEC) value of 0.02 mg/l for residual chlorine. A study on the eggs of estuarine

fish Oryzias javanicus exposed to residual chlorine (1 mg/L NaOCl) for 14 days indicated that a

delay in hatching time was recorded, while other variables such as hatching rate of eggs, survival,

body length and body weight of larvae were not affected (Anasco et al., 2008).


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14.7.2.20 Chlorine decay in seawater through four pathways: oxidation, addition or substitution reaction and

light decomposition. The decay rate depends on the initial concentration of chlorine and

physicochemical properties of seawater. In a laboratory experiment, 3-4 mg/L chlorine was

dispersed in seawater with a total organic carbon content of 4-5 mg/L. The half-lives of chlorine in

the seawater with and without light were found to be 9.6 and 13.5 hours respectively, while the

chlorine disappeared completely within 3 days (Nadeeshani Nanayakkara et al., 2011).

14.7.2.21 In view of the low concentration of residual chlorine to be discharged, the fast decay rate, the

mixing zone for residual chlorine release is localised, the dilution effect of the seawater and the

insignificant effect of residual chlorine on estuarine fish eggs and larvae, the predicted

exceedance is considered to be unlikely to cause adverse impacts at sites of fisheries importance.

The potential impact from spent cooling discharge on fisheries is considered to be insignificant.

14.7.2.22 The findings on the predicted maximum depth-averaged residual amine levels at all sites of

fisheries importance show no exceedance on the criteria. Details of the hydrodynamic model

results on the predicted cumulative amine levels at sites of fisheries importance in year 2026 are

presented in Table 3 of Appendix 8.16. Therefore, the potential fisheries impact due to the

residual amine release from spent cooling is considered to be insignificant.

Fuel Spillage

14.7.2.23 The risk of fuel spillage at the facility was considered extremely low with reference to the

approved EIA report for Permanent Aviation Fuel Facility (PAFF) (Application No. EIA-127/2006).

Incidences of aviation fuel leakage / spillage into the marine environment that may arise during

refueling operations and/or aircraft-related accidents were also assessed as low risk, in view of

the proper measures already in place in the existing HKIA and similar or enhanced measures be

put in place for the newly diverted pipelines. Assessment of potential fuel spillage to marine

environment and the potential water quality impact is provided in Section 8.7.2. In summary, the

risk of jet fuel spillage into the marine environment would be minimal, and therefore the potential

impact on fisheries resources and indirect disturbance to fisheries habitat off-site is considered to

be insignificant.

Maintenance Dredging of the Navigable Waters North of HKIA

14.7.2.24 During operation phase, it has been identified that the changes to the tidal flow regime resulting

from the new land formation may induce sedimentation along the navigable waters to the north of

HKIA, thereby creating a need for periodical maintenance dredging at the navigable area.

14.7.2.25 Sediment transport modelling has been conducted for the project. As presented in Section 8.7.2,

the modeling findings indicate that there is potential for sediment accretion within the embayed

areas and along some of the edges of the airport island. However the output plots suggest limited

to no potential for sedimentation along the northern waters of HKIA, particularly outside the

boundary of the future HKIAAA (HKIAAA is prohibited from vessel entry so maintenance dredging

is not required) where shipping vessels will travel, hence maintenance dredging would not be

required along the navigable waters to the north of HKIA. Therefore, no further assessment of

impacts due to possible maintenance dredging is required.

14.7.2.26 In summary, the discharge of surface runoff/ stormwater and spent cooling water into the

adjacent marine waters of expanded airport island may cause insignificant impact on fisheries


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resources with no exceedance of water quality criteria at sites of fisheries importance predicted.

Operational discharges will also be regulated by the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO)

for the protection of the marine environment. No effect on aquaculture activity is anticipated as

the nearest FCZ and oyster farm are far away from the proposed third runway and the associated

stormwater discharge points. The overall impact significance of deterioration of water quality on

disturbance of fisheries habitats is therefore considered to be insignificant. Furthermore, such

impact can be further reduced by implementation of measures to minimise contaminants in

stormwater, such as installation and maintenance of gullies and oil/grease interceptors to remove

silt, grit, oil and fuel.

Impingement and Entrainment due to Seawater Intakes

14.7.2.27 The existing eastern seawater pump house (SWPH-1) provided a peak load of 4,255 L/s of water

to the existing terminal buildings for cooling in 2012. There will be an increase in cooling demand

from the existing seawater pumping house (SWPH-1) as a result of the expanded Terminal 2. In

addition, a new seawater pumping house (SWPH-7) and associated seawater intakes for the third

runway facilities will likely be situated on the east side of the third runway (Drawing No.

MCL/P132/EIA/8-008). Based on the cooling demand for the new facilities, associated with the

third runway, it is anticipated that the expanded SWPH-1 and the new SWPH-7 will have a peak

flow of 7070 l/s and 7400 l/s respectively.

14.7.2.28 The increase in sea water flow in surrounding waters adjacent to the seawater intakes may

cause physical damage of fish especially juvenile fishes and crustaceans by collisions with the

screen and cause impingement or die. Fish eggs or larvae of smaller size will pass through the

screen but might subject to exposure to vaporization and cause entrainment or desiccation.

14.7.2.29 The location of the seawater pumping house (SWPH-1) and future pumping house (SWPH-7) are

located either further away or at the boundary of the identified spawning ground for marine fishes.

It is considered that the increase in water flow in the eastern Chek Lap Kok waters will not cause

unacceptable adverse impacts to the fisheries resources caused by impingement and

entrainment of larvae and fish post-larvae. The impact significance is considered to be low.

Indirect Disturbance of Marine Fishes due to Aircraft Noise

14.7.2.30 Anthropogenic noise may affect fish distribution, reproduction, communication and predation

abilities (Slabbekoorn et al., 2010). The effect of aircraft noise is not well investigated. It has been

reported that aircraft noise did not have any effect on fish at a hatchery near airport frequented by

commercial jets; mild sonic boom did not have any effect on fish eggs, and only intense sonic

boom might startle and cause jumping reactions in fish (Gladwin et al., 1987). Although fish has

been reported to respond to noise such as those generated by underwater explosions and

vessels, airborne sound such as those generated by aircraft is usually reflected off the water’s

surface, with only a small proportion actually penetrating the air-water boundary (ACRP, 2008).

Therefore they are not likely to be affected by the sound generated by aircrafts. The impact

significance is considered to be insignificant.

Potential Fisheries “No-take-zone”

14.7.2.31 The future HKIAAA extension by approximately 358 ha will provide a fisheries “no-take-zone” as it

will be a marine exclusion zone where entry of fishing vessel is prohibited; fishing activities will no


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longer be possible in these areas during the operation phase of the project. The artificial seawall

along the future land formation coastline would be 7.1 km longer than the existing seawall that will

be removed (from existing 5.9 km to 13 km). Moreover, eco-enhancement features are proposed

to be incorporated into the future seawall design with a view to providing suitable microhabitats

for re-colonisation of marine fauna that will benefit recruitment of juvenile fishes as well as

substrates for fisheries enhancement.

14.7.2.32 Therefore, the future operation of HKIAAA is considered of beneficial in conservation of fisheries

resources and habitats. The impact significance on fishing activities is considered to be low.

14.7.2.33 The above potential fisheries impacts are evaluated according to the criteria in Annex 9 of the

EIAO-TM and are summarised in Table 14-5 and Table 14-6 for construction and operation

phase impacts respectively.


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Table 14-5 Impact Evaluation for Potential Fisheries Impact during Construction Phase

Potential Impact

Source of Impact

Affected Area Criteria

Impact significance

Mitigation required

Nature of impact Size of affected area

Loss of fisheries resources / production

Destruction and disturbance of nursery and spawning grounds

Impact on fishing activity Impact on aquaculture activity

Direct loss of fishing ground

Temporary works area, land formation works,

construction of approach lights,

construction of lighted marks and beacons for future HKIAAA, diversion of submarine 11 kV cables, marine SI at SCLKCMP and floating temporary platform for diversion of submarine fuel pipelines

Fishing ground at northern and western Chek Lap Kok and SCLKCMP

Temporary for the works area, diversion of submarine cables and marine SI at SCLKCMP;

Permanent loss upon completion of land formation; and construction of approach lights, lighted marks & beacons by late 2021

Temporary works area of approx. 981 ha;

Total permanent loss of fishing grounds of 410 ha

(Note: The loss due to construction of approach lights, lighted marks & beacons is only 0.011 ha, which is negligible.)

Potential loss in fisheries production would be ranged from 100 - 200 kg/ha per year

Encroach on 78 ha (around 1.57%) of identified spawning grounds of commercial fisheries resources

The northern portion of the footprint and the proposed temporary works area were moderately used by small vessels (approx. 150 – 400 vessels will be affected)

Moderately-low usage of western waters of the airport by small vessels (approx. 50 - 100 vessels will be affected).

No aquaculture activity be affected directly

Low from commencement of construction to moderate

Yes, minimisation of project footprint from 827 ha to 650 ha and consideration of alternative construction methods

Direct loss of fisheries habitats (and resources)

Land formation works

Construction of approach lights

Construction of lighted marks and beacons for future HKIAAA

Fisheries habitats at the land formation footprint and future HKIAAA

Permanent loss upon completion of land formation; and construction of approach lights, lighted marks & beacons by late 2021

Total permanent loss of fisheries habitats = 672 ha

(Note: The loss due to construction of approach lights, lighted marks & beacons is only 0.011 ha, which is negligible.)

Low proportion of fisheries resources (0.04 - 0.08 %)


The northern portion of the footprint was moderately used by small vessels (approx. 150 – 400 vessels will be affected).


Low from commencement of construction to moderate

Yes, minimisation of project footprint from 827 ha to 650 ha, consideration of alternative construction methods to minimise disturbance, compensation of permanent loss of fisheries habitats (and resources) by establishment of Marine Park to connect with the existing and planned / potential Marine Parks.

Diversion of submarine 11 kV cables

Marine SI at SCLKCMP for submarine fuel pipelines and floating temporary platform for diversion of submarine fuel pipelines

Fisheries habitat at western Chek Lap Kok and SCLKCMP

Diversion of submarine 11 kV cables – temporary loss between 2015 and 2016

Marine SI work at SCLKCMP – temporary loss for a few months in 2015

Floating temporary platform – temporary loss

Total temporary loss of fisheries habitat = 0.67 ha

(Note: The loss due to marine SI work at SCLKCMP is only 0.000012 ha, which is negligible.)

Low proportion of fisheries resources (approx. 0.00004% - 0.00008%)

Insignificant Moderately-low usage of western waters of the airport by small vessels (approx. 50 – 100 vessels will be affected).


Insignificant No, the seabed will be reinstated after the diversion and SI works

Direct loss of spawning or nursery grounds




Spawning ground at northern Lantau waters

Permanent loss upon completion of construction


Low proportion of fisheries resources (0.04 – 0.08%)


No No Low No

Indirect disturbance of fisheries habitats due to

Diversion of the submarine pipeline and cable

Fishing ground at western Chek Lap Kok outside

Temporary

(2015 to 2016)

Western Chek Lap Kok waters

Low, the area is not of high fisheries production.

Insignificant Moderately-low usage of western waters of the existing airport island by small vessels (approx.

No aquaculture activity be affected

Insignificant No specific measure for fisheries is required. Water quality mitigation measures


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Potential Impact

Source of Impact


Impact significance

Mitigation required





deterioration of water quality

HKIAAA 50 – 100 vessels will be affected).

including the use of alternative construction methods, phasing of works, etc. would minimise the impact.

Land formation works including ground improvement, marine filling and seawall construction

Sites of fisheries importance at Tai O, Brothers waters, SCLKCMP and spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources at northern Lantau waters

Temporary

(2016 to end 2017 when seawall construction would be substantially completed)

N/A Constitutes a small proportion of total fisheries resources/ production in Hong Kong

Low Impacts on fishing activities are expected to be localised and will be substantially reduced upon the seawall establishment to surround the works area

No significant impact on marine fish culture activity.

Insignificant No specific measure for fisheries is required. Water quality mitigation measures including the use of alternative construction methods, phasing of works, etc. would minimise the impact.

Oil and chemical spill

Fisheries habitats at northern Lantau waters

Temporary N/A Yes Yes Yes No Insignificant No specific measure for fisheries is required.

Importation and transportation of fill materials

Fisheries habitats along the transportation routes and adjacent waters

Temporary N/A Yes Yes Yes No Low No specific measure for fisheries is required. Water quality mitigation measures including good housekeeping would minimise the impact.

Indirect impact on Aquaculture sites

Land formation works including ground improvement, marine filling, seawall construction and water jetting and excavation at field joint area

Ma Wan Marine Fish Culture Zone (FCZ) and oyster production areas at Deep Bay

Temporary Approx. 13,200 m2 aquaculture rafts at Ma Wan marine FCZ; approx. 64 ha of oyster rafts at Lau Fau Shan

Insignificant Insignificant N/A Insignificant Insignificant No

Indirect impact on artificial reefs

Land formation works including ground improvement, marine filling and seawall construction

Artificial reefs (ARs) in SCLKCMP and planned BMP

Temporary

(2016 to end 2017 when seawall construction would be substantially completed)

6 AR sites at SCLKCMP with total area of approx. 1,200 m2

BMP; approx. 10,800 m3

The impact on ARs in SCLKCMP and planned BMP is low.

Low No fishing activities are allowed at ARs.

N/A

Low on ARs in SCLKCMP and planned BMP

No specific measure for fisheries is required. Water quality mitigation measures including the use of alternative construction methods, phasing of works, etc. would minimise the impact.

Disturbance on fishing activities

Conflict of usage of marine waters with construction vessels and other marine vessels

Northern waters between the works boundary to the north and SCLKCMP

Temporary Large Low N/A Yes N/A Low No

Disturbance to fisheries resources associated with underwater sound

Increase in marine construction vessels, ground improvement works and bored piling for approach light and lighted

Fisheries resources at and surrounding the land formation footprint

Temporary for several weeks at bore piling locations and during construction phase from late 2015/ early 2016 to end 2021 for marine traffic

N/A Low for small area to be affected. Some fish may deter from the area with underwater sound and vibration

Juvenile species may be susceptible to noise damages

No impact on fishing activity is expected

No aquaculture activity will be affected

Low No specific measure for fisheries is required, but use of alternative construction method instead of percussive piling.


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Potential Impact

Source of Impact


Impact significance

Mitigation required





marks and beacons


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Table 14-6 Impact Evaluation for Potential Fisheries Impact during Operation Phase

Potential Impact

Source of Impact


Impact significance

Mitigation required





Direct loss of fishing ground




Fishing ground at northern Chek Lap Kok outside existing HKIAAA

Permanent loss Total 768 ha Potential loss in fisheries production range from 100 – 200 kg/ha/year



No Moderate Yes, minimisation of project footprint from 827 ha to 650 ha, consideration of alternative construction methods, improvement of fisheries resources by marine park establishment.

Disturbance of fishing activities

Conflict of usage of marine waters with marine vessels especially high speed ferries

Northern waters between the works boundary to the north and SCLKCMP

Permanent Large Low N/A Yes N/A Low No

Direct loss of fisheries habitats (and resources)




Fishing habitats for the land formation footprint, approach lights and lighted marks and beacons

Permanent loss

Total 672 ha

Low proportion of fisheries resources (0.04 - 0.08 %)



No Moderate Yes, minimisation of project footprint from 827 ha to 650 ha, consideration of alternative construction methods to minimise disturbance, compensation of fisheries habitats (and resources) by establishment of Marine Park to connect with the existing and planned / potential Marine Parks.

Direct loss of spawning or nursery grounds




Spawning ground at northern Lantau waters

Permanent loss Encroach on 78 ha (around 1.57%) of identified spawning grounds of commercial fisheries resources

Low proportion of fisheries resources


No No Low No

Change in hydrodynamics and tidal influence

Land formation footprint


Permanent Northern Lantau waters

No There may be disturbance on identified spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources

Minor changes in most of the sites of fisheries importance, more significant changes at immediate north of land formation footprint and west of existing airport island

No Low No, but enhancement measures at west of future airport extension embayed area will be considered to promote fishery recovery.

Indirect disturbance of fisheries habitats due to deterioration of water quality

Storm water runoff, sewage effluent discharge, spent cooling water discharge, fuel spillage and maintenance dredging


Temporary Waters surrounding the expanded airport island

Low as the area is not of high fisheries production

Potentially disturb spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources

No, as fishing vessels are not allowed to enter the future HKIAAA

No Insignificant No specific measure for fisheries is required. Water quality mitigation measures would minimise the impact.

Impingement and entrainment due to seawater

Increase seawater flow due to seawater intake

Fisheries habitats at northern Lantau waters especially for

Temporary Waters surrounding the seawater intakes at airport island east

Insignificant Potentially disturb spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources immediate to the seawater intakes

No No Low No


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Potential Impact

Source of Impact


Impact significance

Mitigation required





intakes juvenile fishes, eggs and crustacean

Indirect disturbance due to aircraft noise

Increase in aircraft

Fisheries resources at northern Lantau waters

Permanent Waters influenced by the landing and take-off noise from aircraft

Not likely Not likely No No Insignificant No

Potential Fisheries “No-take zone”

Extension of HKIAAA as marine exclusion zone

Future extended HKIAAA

Permanent Future HKIAAA of approx. area of 358 ha

Fisheries resources or production are expected to increase with the extension of fisheries “no-take” zone

Nursery and spawning ground will not be affected, while HKIAAA may provide habitat for larvae and juvenile fish recruitment

The area was moderately used by small vessels (approx. 150 – 400 vessels will be affected).

No Positive to fisheries resources conservation and low impact on fishing activities

No


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14.8 Cumulative Impacts

14.8.1.1 Chapter 4 has identified the potential concurrent projects within the study area and the locations

of concurrent projects for cumulative impact assessment are shown in Drawing No.

MCL/P132/EIA/4-008. Table 14-7 below summarises those projects that may cause cumulative

impact on fisheries resources and operations. The potential cumulative impacts may include

temporary and permanent loss of fishing grounds / fisheries habitat and potential deterioration of

water quality during construction and operation phases.

Table 14-7 Concurrent Projects with Potential Cumulative Impact on Fisheries

Proposed Development/ On-going Projects

Nature of the Projects Potential Fisheries Impact

Latest Programme as of August 2013

Status

Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge: Hong Kong Link Road (HKLR)

Dual 3-lane carriageway connecting HKBCF

Temporary loss of seabed during construction: 243 ha*

Permanent loss of seabed for marine piers and reclamation: 30 ha*

Potential water quality impact during construction phase

Commenced in May 2012, for completion by end 2016

Under construction

Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge: Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF)

Boundary crossing facilities and serves as transfer point for road traffic between HKLR and TM-CLKL


Permanent loss of seabed for reclamation: 138 ha*


Commenced in November 2011, for completion by end 2016

Under construction

Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link (TM-CLKL)

Dual 2-lane carriageway between Northwest New Territories and HKBCF


Permanent loss of seabed for marine piers and reclamation: 48 ha*

Commenced in November 2011, for completion by end 2016

Under construction

Tung Chung New Town Development Extension

New town development extension for accommodate 220,000 population to meet housing and other development needs

Permanent loss of seabed of around 134 ha for reclamation

No construction programme is confirmed at this stage

Under engineering and environmental assessment

Lantau Logistics Park (LLP)

Reclamation site at Siu Ho Wan for establishment of logistics facilities

Permanent loss of seabed: 112 ha


Development programme yet to be confirmed

Project status not confirm

New Contaminated Mud Marine Disposal Facility at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) East / East of Sha Chau

Contaminated mud disposal facilities

Temporary loss of seabed at HKIA East: about 164 ha*

Temporary loss of seabed for South Brothers and East Sha Chau Mud Pits: about 106 ha*

Potential water quality

CMP to the south of the Brothers operate between 2013 and 2016; CMP at the East of Sha Chau operate between 2016 and 2017

Operated in 2013


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Proposed Development/ On-going Projects

Nature of the Projects Potential Fisheries Impact

Latest Programme as of August 2013

Status

impact during construction phase

Development of the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1 (IWMF)

Waste incineration plant, mechanical treatment plant and ancillary facilities at Tsang Tsui Ash Lagoon in Nim Wan (TTAL), Tuen Mun and an artificial island near Shek Kwu Chau (SKC)

#TTAL: confined to terrestrial area, loss of fishing grounds and resources not expected. #SKC (south of Lantau Island outside the study area)

Latest programme yet to be confirmed

EIA approved

Providing Sufficient Water Depth at Kwai Tsing Container Basin and its Approach Channel

Dredging activities to provide sufficient seabed depth at Kwai Tsing Container Basin, portions of the Northern Fairway and Western Fairway

Temporary loss of fishing ground and resources: 446 ha@ (about 220 ha are within the Principal Fairways where fishing is restricted)

Planned for commencement in early 2013 for completion by early 2016

Detailed design and construction stage

Container Terminal 10 Development at Southwest Tsing Yi (CT10)

Development of a container terminal and associated facilities at the southwest of Tsing Yi island

Permanent loss of approx. 180 ha of seabed with dredging, construction of seawalls and reclamation

No programme yet

Preliminary feasibility study

Harbour Area Treatment Scheme – Stage 2A

Strategic sewage disposal scheme to provide treatment for the sewage collected from urban areas in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island

Indirect disturbance in operation phase due to changes to water quality induced by the sewage discharge

Construction commenced in 2009 and scheduled for completion in 2014

Under construction

Leisure and Entertainment Node at Sunny Bay

Leisure and entertainment node at Sunny Bay to provide a cluster of entertainment, leisure and tourist facilities

Potential permanent loss of seabed of 70 ha^

No programme yet

Feasibility study

Outlying Islands Sewerage Stage 2 – Upgrading of Cheung Chau and Tai O Sewage Collection, Treatment and Disposal Facilities (Upgrading of Tai O Sewage Collection, Treatment and Disposal Facilities)

Upgrading of sewage collection, treatment and disposal facilities in Tai O

Potential water quality impacts during construction phase

Permanent marine habitat loss of approx. 0.23 ha

Scheduled to commence construction in late 2014 for completion in 2019

Project profile submitted in 2012

Sludge Treatment Facilities

Proposed facility for treatment of dewatered sludge generated from the sewage treatment process.

Potential water quality impact during operation phase

Planned for commissioning in November 2013

Under construction

Source:*Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge – Hong Kong Link Road EIA Report (Arup, 2009)

#Engineering Investigation and Environmental Studies for Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1 –

Feasibility Study, Environmental Impact Assessment Report (AECOM, 2011)

@Providing Sufficient Water Depth for Kwai Tsing Container Basin and its Approach Channel – Environmental

Impact Assessment Report (Mott MacDonald, 2010)


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^Hong Kong 2030: Planning Vision and Strategy Stragic Environmental Assessment – Revised Concept Plan for

Lantau (LCP) Broad Brush Environmental Appraisal of the LCP (Hyder Consulting and Mott Connell, 2007)

14.8.1.2 The potential cumulative fisheries impacts due to the loss of fishing grounds / fisheries habitats

(and resources) and potential deterioration of water quality within the study area have been

reviewed based on the fisheries impact assessments of relevant approved EIA studies where

available, or based on the latest baseline information on fisheries production and operations in

respective area. Those projects with status not confirmed or design information not available

would only be considered for their potential permanent loss of fishing grounds as worst case

scenarios.

14.8.1.3 As detailed in Table 14-8, there would be cumulative total permanent loss of approximately 1,480

ha of fishing ground or 1,384 ha of fisheries habitats if all the identified concurrent projects are

implemented as planned. With regard to the cumulative loss of fisheries habitats, the impact

significance is considered to be moderate, as a considerable portion (49 %) of the total area to be

lost would be contributed by the third runway project. Mitigation measure is considered required.

Table 14-8 Summary of Permanent Fishing Ground/ Fisheries Habitat Losses of this Project and the

Concurrent Projects

Projects Permanent Loss of Fishing Ground or Fisheries Habitats

Expansion of Hong Kong International Airport into a Three-Runway System

Fishing ground loss: 768 ha

Fisheries habitat loss: 672 ha

( Land formation works carried out in phases from late 2015/ early 2016 to late 2021, with majority of marine filling works

competed by late 2018)

Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge: Hong Kong Link Road (HKLR)

About 30 ha seabed for marine piers and reclamation

(Completion by end 2016)

Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge: Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF)

About 138 ha seabed for reclamation


Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link (TM-CLKL) About 48 ha seabed for marine piers and reclamation


Tung Chung New Town Development Extension

Around 134 ha seabed on south and southeast of Chek Lap Kok waters with low to very low fisheries production and

operation

(Project programme and design information not confirmed but considered as worst case scenario)

Lantau Logistics Park (LLP) Around 112 ha seabed on northeast of Tai Ho Bay with low fisheries operation


New Contaminated Mud Marine Disposal Facility at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) East / East of Sha Chau

No permanent loss

Providing Sufficient Water Depth at Kwai Tsing Container Basin and its Approach Channel

No permanent loss

Container Terminal 10 Development at Southwest Tsing Yi (CT10)

About 180 ha of seabed with low fisheries operations

(Project programme not confirmed but considered as worst case scenario)

Harbour Area Treatment Scheme – Stage 2A No loss of fishing ground

Leisure and Entertainment Node at Sunny Bay About 70 ha seabed with moderate fishing operations



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Projects Permanent Loss of Fishing Ground or Fisheries Habitats

Outlying Islands Sewerage Stage 2 – Upgrading of Cheung Chau and Tai O Sewage Collection, Treatment and Disposal Facilities (Upgrading of Tai O Sewage Collection, Treatment and Disposal Facilities)

Permanent marine habitat loss of about 0.23 ha affecting the fishing ground with low operation in the western Lantau

waters

Sludge Treatment Facilities No loss of fishing ground

Total Fishing ground loss: 1,480 ha

Fisheries habitat loss: 1,384 ha

14.8.1.4 As detailed in Section 8.5.3, the cumulative water quality impact assessment has already taken

into account all the relevant concurrent projects where information is available. The cumulative

impact assessment findings as detailed in Section 8.7.1 indicated that there would be

exceedances of the SS criterion under the WQO (i.e. < 30% of ambient baseline conditions) at

the Brothers under the mitigated worst case scenarios. Elevated SS cause adverse impacts on

the water body, such as reduced penetration of light, temperature changes, release of

contaminants and nutrients, deplete dissolved oxygen levels, and all these changes can have

negative impact on the marine biota (Bilotta and Brazier, 2008). The contributions to the SS

exceedances by the third runway project are predicted to be up to 12%. The frequency of depth-

average SS exceedances would be up to around 0.1% of the time in a year. The result is due to

the very conservative modelling assumptions adopted for the disposal / capping operations at the

CMPs at East Sha Chau and South of the Brothers. These disposal / capping activities were

assumed based on the maximum allowable production rate as specified in the Environmental

Permit for that concurrent project. Based on recent information provided by that project proponent

in October and December 2013, it is understood that daily peak disposal and capping operations

would be much lower than the allowable production rate in the past five years of operation

(between 2009 and 2013). It is predicted that with a more realistic prediction of production rates

using historic rates for disposal and capping, the SS elevations at the Brothers would be

significantly reduced and no cumulative exceedance of the principal criteria would arise. Thus

cumulative impacts due to this concurrent project are considered to be low.

14.8.1.5 The cumulative effect of concurrent projects has already been taken into account in the

hydrodynamic model for operation phase scenario. Based on the hydrodynamic model findings,

the changes in tidal discharges, including both increases and decreases, are relatively small after

implementation of the project as compared to the base scenario. More significant hydrodynamic

changes are identified for the flow through the east of airport channel. The areas immediately

surrounding the project are also predicted to have more significant changes in peak velocity.

However, the water quality results do not appear to show significant deteriorations in water quality

in this area despite the reduced flows (refer to the results for DO, BOD5, TIN, NH3 and SS shown

in Appendix 8.15). Thus it is not anticipated that the flow reductions will significantly affect water

quality in this area.

14.8.1.6 For assessment of local effects due to the project, flow velocities at individual sites of fisheries

importance locations (F1 – Ma Wan Marine Fish Culture Zone; F2 – spawning grounds of

commercial fisheries resources in northern Lantau waters; F3 – high production of capture

fisheries at Tai O; CR2 – AR at Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park; and CR3 – the

planned BMP) were summarised in Appendix 8.14 (Table 1) for the with and without project

scenarios. The results show generally minimal changes in flow velocities at most sites of fisheries

importance especially for dry season (<0.1 m/s), which suggests that the project would not induce

significant changes to the hydrodynamic regime at most locations. Areas showing more


14-49


significant changes in peak velocity (e.g. >0.2 m/s) are generally areas immediately surrounding

the project (e.g. the area immediately north of the airport at F2 and the embayed areas to the

west of the airport). As species recorded to the north of the land formation footprint and adjacent

waters did not show significant difference in species abundance, the impact significance on the

change in hydrodynamic flow is considered to be low. For the western waters of existing airport,

though the peak velocity shows more significant changes, the future embayed areas to the

extension of the airport would provide a slower flow region that is similar to the condition without

the project in place, thus provide similar habitats for the fisheries resources. The impact

significance on the cumulative change in hydrodynamics and flow regime are considered to be

low.

14.9 Mitigation Measures

14.9.1.1 Based on the assessment in Section 14.7, the various potential fisheries impacts during

construction and operation phases of the third runway project are considered to be of low to

moderate significance. As such, mitigation measures for the moderate fisheries impact are

considered necessary. In addition, implementation of the recommended water quality mitigation

measures will also minimise the impacts on fisheries resources and fishing ground. Details of the

relevant water quality mitigation measures are described in Section 8.8, and are also

summarised below.

Minimisation of Land Formation Area

14.9.1.2 During the course of design consideration for the 3RS, through the strategic assessment of

options, the required overall size of the land formation needed for the additional facilities has

been minimised to reduce, as much as possible, the overall loss of habitat for fisheries resources.

The alignment of a runway is governed by the geographical location as well as the predominant

wind direction for landings and take-offs. Considerations for runway alignment therefore form the

first major foundation for any airport project, as runway alignment effectively governs available

options for future layout and operation of airport facilities and can result in permanent operation

constraints on an airport.

14.9.1.3 A total of 15 alignments were further developed to focussed on generic layouts to demonstrate

the broadest range of possible runway alignments options and these were subject to assessment

against a set of mandatory compliance criteria and a sixteenth option.

14.9.1.4 In addition, a total of 18 airport layout options were considered and evaluated against

constructability and operation requirements and environmental considerations. Further details are

provided in Chapter 3. Overall, previous land requirement estimates were in the region of 743 ha

to 827 ha but have now been reduced to 650 ha of open waters and 672 ha of seabed area as a

minimum requirement. This will greatly minimise the direct loss of fisheries habitats (and

resources) and fishing grounds.

14.9.1.5 During the course of preliminary engineering design, key environmental differentiators for

comparison of airport layout options have been considered in the development of preferred layout

(Section 3.4 in Chapter 3). CWD, fisheries and marine ecology are some of the key

environmental differentiators. The options comparison have considered the potential disturbance

to fisheries production, disturbance to fishing operation and loss in fisheries value due to

construction; potential permanent loss in fisheries production and fisheries habitats (and

resources), disturbance to fishing operation and loss in fisheries value due to the operation of the


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3RS and extension of HKIAAA, in shortlisting the options where potential impacts were relatively

lesser than other options. An example of minimising the potential impact to fisheries activities that

has been considered in developing the preferred option layout is by optimising the separation

distance between the new HKIAAA, SCLKCMP and Hong Kong marine waters boundary (Option

3-R(A+Y)) (Table 3.9 in Chapter 3). This option has been further refined taking into account the

environmental benefit and dis-benefit in developing the preferred layout option.

Use of Construction Methods with Minimal Risk/Disturbance

14.9.1.6 Some marine construction methods may impact upon fisheries habitats and fishing ground, and

thus every attempt has been made to avoid these types of methods during construction of the

3RS project. Percussive piling and underwater blasting are the two most significant examples and

this project plans to avoid these two methods. While dredging is not considered as harmful as the

above practices, it still has the potential to cause disturbance to fisheries resources. Therefore,

dredging and filling operations will be avoided during the land formation and non-dredge

techniques will be adopted for the main land formation and ancillary works including the diversion

of the aviation fuel pipeline to the AFRF. The use of the Deep Cement Mixing (DCM) method

instead of conventional seabed dredging for creation of the 3RS land platform will significantly

reduce the risk of negative impacts though the elevation of suspended solids and contaminants

on fisheries. Land filling activities will be undertaken only behind a 200 m leading seawall and

filling rates restricted to 3,000 m3/hour. In addition, only short term bored piling will be used to

form the new approach lights and marker beacons for the new runway. Also, the horizontal

directional drilling (HDD) method and water jetting methods will be used for placement of

undersea cables and pipelines and these will minimise the disturbance to the fisheries resources.

Consideration of Alternative Alignment for Pipeline Diversion with Minimal

Risk/Disturbance

14.9.1.7 Alternative alignment for the submarine pipelines diversion has been considered to reduce the

length within the bed rock levels of SCLKCMP (Appendix 13.14). By adopting a similar alignment

as Option 2 as far as possible, the HDD horizontal alignment close to Sha Chau would be as

shown in yellow (Appendix 13.14) (the preferred alignment is shown in red).

14.9.1.8 This alignment involves both additional drilling distance and the introduction of a compound

radius curve (combined horizontal and vertical curve) with a compound radius in the order of 700

m. Both of these changes from the preferred alignment will substantially increase the construction

risk associated with the HDD works and in particular the ability to day light at the selected location

on the island close to the Aviation Fuel Facility. The layout of the compound curve means that

any misalignment would be virtually impossible to adjust given the very hard rock conditions and

the day lighting has the potential to occur in the water to the north of the island. It is therefore

concluded that this alignment is not a viable alignment.

14.9.1.9 By adopting the HDD method, disturbance to the fisheries habitats would be negligible as the

drilling will be carried out through the bedrock well below the seabed and both the bedrock and

the sediment layers of the seabed would dampen any indirect and minor noise impact that may

be expected during HDD drilling activities. It is again noted that the HDD drilling would take place

at a depth of several tens of metres below the seabed. Although the section passing through rock

underneath the existing SCLKCMP would be slightly shorter, adopting the alternative and longer

alignment would increase the risk of failing to accurately reach the selected day lighting location

as discussed above and would also result in a larger amount of excavated materials and longer


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work duration for the pipeline installation. It should also be noted that the alternative alignment

would ultimately be located completely underneath the seabed of the proposed extended marine

park which in future will link the existing SCLKCMP with the planned BMP as well as with the

future 3RS HKIAAA.

Consideration of Alternative Treatment to Existing Pipelines after Diversion

14.9.1.10 It is considered to cap the two ends of the existing submarine pipelines after diversion, but

alternative treatment has been reviewed to minimise the risk of leaving the pipelines in existing

locations. If the whole length of the two pipelines is to be filled, grout would have to be introduced

into them from both ends i.e. from the end at the airport island and the end at Sha Chau Island.

This would require significant additional works within SCLKCMP and involve the handling of

additional cement grout at the works area within the marine park. Due to the long length of the

pipelines and the curved alignment, the complete filling of the pipelines could not be fully

guaranteed. For these reasons and taking into account the significant depth of the pipelines

below the seabed and the rock armour protection above them, it has been reasonably concluded

that filling the whole length of the pipelines with cement grouting is not necessary and is unlikely

to result in any environmental benefit. It should be noted that the existing pipelines will be

completely flushed in order to remove any aviation fuel inside the pipelines prior to any grouting

activity, with flushing residues treated / disposed of in accordance with all relevant Hong Kong

requirements. Also, pipeline pigging would be deployed to remove any remaining fuel residues

that may have adhered to the inner walls of the pipelines prior to capping at the two ends.

Therefore, the demobilised pipelines would not cause any adverse impact on fisheries habitats

even if they are only capped and grouted along a relatively short section at each end.

Strict Enforcement of No-Dumping Policy

14.9.1.11 Often, construction work involves extended work by personnel from coastal sites, reclaimed lands,

anchored barges, skiffs, or other types of vessels. A No-Dumping Policy is simply a policy

prohibiting dumping of wastes, chemicals, oil, trash, plastic, or any other substance that would

potentially be harmful to fisheries resources and/or their habitat in the work area. It is mandatory

that an educational program of the no-dumping policy be made available to all construction-site

personnel for all project-related works. Obviously, to be effective, such a policy needs to be

strictly enforced and there need to be stiff fines for infractions. Unscheduled, on-site audits will

also generally be required.

Good Construction Site Practices

14.9.1.12 Good construction site practices will be observed, which is standard in most marine construction

projects in Hong Kong these days. Among other things, this should include the regular inspection

of the integrity and effectiveness of all silt curtains, and monitoring of effluents to ensure that any

discharge meets effluent discharge guidelines. To minimise the potential temporary disturbance

due to the delivery barges and stationary construction vessels north of the airport platform during

construction, construction traffic (land and sea) including construction plants, construction vessels

and barges should be kept to a practical minimum. Any idle vessels should be avoided in the

construction area. The overall objective is to keep the number of working or stationary vessels

present on-site to the minimum anytime. Unscheduled, on-site audits for all good site practice

restrictions should be conducted, and fines or penalties sufficient to be an effective deterrent

need to be levied against violators.


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Mitigation for Indirect Disturbance due to Deterioration of Water Quality

14.9.1.13 The water quality mitigation measures during construction phases include consideration of

alternative construction methods, deployment of silt curtain and good site practices.

14.9.1.14 Alternative construction methods including use of non-dredge methods for ground improvement

(e.g. Deep Cement Mixing (DCM), prefabricated vertical drains (PVD), sand compaction piles,

steel cells, stone columns and vertical sand drains) have been proposed to minimise the need for

marine sediment removal, which will limit the release of sediment plumes during the construction

phase (details see Section 3.6.2). This will greatly reduce the potential for adverse construction-

related water quality impacts and associated impacts on fisheries.

14.9.1.15 For the construction of other marine infrastructure facilities, no percussive piling will be used, but

instead bored piling is selected as the preferred foundation system to support the approach lights,

lighted marks and beacons for less disturbance to the surrounding environment (details see

Section 3.7.2).

14.9.1.16 For the diversion of submarine aviation fuel pipelines, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) through

the sub-sea bedrock level will greatly reduce the disturbance that may induce on fisheries

habitats and fishing ground between the airport island and Sha Chau.

14.9.1.17 For the diversion of submarine 11 kV cables, water jetting method will be used for direct burial of

cable from airport to outside of SCLKCMP boundary (details see Section 3.7.4). No trench

excavation is required and the seabed will be reinstated to original level upon construction

completion. This will reduce the sediment release to the marine environment. For the field joint

location, excavation will be carried out to expose a section of the existing cable for connecting to

the new cable. The excavated trench will then be reinstated and backfilled with sediment on top

to the original seabed level. This will allow recolonisation of marine fauna and fisheries resources.

14.9.1.18 Other specific measures for water quality impacts are presented in Sections 8.8.1. In summary,

these recommended measures include selection of marine fill materials with optimal fines content,

provision of advance seawall of at least 200 m prior to commencement of marine filling activities,

deployment of double layer silt curtains around active eastern works areas prior to

commencement of sand blanket laying activities, deployment of double layer silt curtains around

the partially completed seawalls prior to commencement of marine filling activities, use of closed

grabs for field joint excavation works for the submarine cable diversion, and deployment of silt

curtains to surround the closed grab dredger as a precautionary measure. Other measures to

minimise contaminants in storm water discharges during operation phase are also specified in

Section 8.8.2.

Establishment of a New Marine Park

14.9.1.19 Based on the cumulative impact assessment in Section 14.8, while the permanent loss of

fisheries habitats of 672 ha due to this third runway project alone is considered as moderate

impact significance, the cumulative permanent loss of fisheries habitats of 1,384 ha due to this

project and the relevant concurrent projects (Table 14-8) is also considered as moderate impact

significance. The permanent fisheries habitat loss due to this project accounts for about 49% of

the cumulative loss. As a result, it is proposed to compensate the loss of 672 ha fisheries habitats

due to this third runway project by establishment of a Marine Park to the north, west and east of

the proposed land formation footprint and HKIAAA extension as illustrated in Drawing No.


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MCL/P132/EIA/14-010. The Marine Park would also serve to mitigate the moderate impacts

associated with loss of 768 ha of fishing ground due to the future extension of HKIAAA. As

avoidance and minimisation measures are exhausted, compensatory measure is therefore

required.

14.9.1.20 The approximate area for the proposed Marine Park will be around 2,400 ha in size. The

proposed Marine Park will be connected with the existing SCLKCMP to the north, the planned

BMP to the east and the marine mammals conservation area at the Mainland waters to the west.

It should be noted that the actual extent of the proposed new Marine Park will need to be

designated under the Marine Parks Ordinance and the current estimate of its area is indicative

and subject to change after discussion and agreement with the Hong Kong Government and

other stakeholders. However, the area would not be expected to change significantly.

Compensation for the Loss of Fisheries Habitats (and Resources)

14.9.1.21 The future HKIAAA extension by approximately 358 ha will serve as a fisheries “no-take-zone” as

it will be a marine exclusion zone where entry of fishing vessel is prohibited. Marine Protected

Areas (MPAs) which excludes fishing at core area and other anthropogenic disturbances may

benefit the adjacent fisheries outside the MPAs in two ways: (1) through the net emigration of

juvenile and adult fish (termed “spillover effect”), and/or (2) export of pelagic eggs and larvae from

the restored spawning stocks fishery (Harmelin-Vivien et al., 2008). Based on the study of the

effect to the adjacent fishery and the spillover of exploitable fishes from the Mombasa Marine

Park in Kenya, it was revealed that the establishment of Mombasa Marine Park, within which all

forms of fishing are prohibited, significantly increased fish stocks adjacent to the park. Outside the

marine park where there is fisheries management to restrict the activities of pull seines, spillover

increased the catch per fisher by around 75% and may extend up to 2 km (McClanahan and

Mangi, 2000).

14.9.1.22 Within Hong Kong, only one study had investigated the changes of demersal fish community after

reclamation for HKIA, followed by the establishment of MPAs including SCLKCMP and the Pearl

River Chinese White Dolphin Nature Reserve (PRCWDNR). The PRCWDNR has a core area of

140 km2, where vessels are not allowed to enter without approval by the management

department for the nature reserve. During reclamation, the fish community was dominated by

young or small-sized species and fast-growing species. After the establishment of the MPAs, the

fish density outside the MPAs was found to increase significantly, and the spillover effect lasted

more than 15 km away from the boundary of the MPAs (Tam et al., 2013). It is noted that MPAs

on their own do not deliver sustainable fisheries, and in many cases need to be complemented by

well-enforced fishing regulations to reduce fishing efforts (Gell and Roberts, 2003). Within the

marine park, management of fishing activities may be carried out through permit system and the

establishment of Marine Park Management Plan that may include core area as fisheries no-take

zone. Furthermore, complementary fisheries management measures have been in place in Hong

Kong waters following the implementation of the amended Fisheries Protection Ordinance which

came into effect in 15 June 2012. These include setting up a registration system for local fishing

vessels, limiting new entrants and maintaining an appropriate level of fishing effort, and restrict

fishing activities of non-fishing vessels. All these measures can help to strengthen the spillover

effect for the proposed marine park, the connection between SCLKCMP, the planned BMP, the

PRCWDNR and the future extended HKIAAA.

14.9.1.23 It is anticipated that the connection of all these marine protected areas with the extended HKIAAA

as fisheries no-take zone will provide synergistic effects for the conservation of marine ecology


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and fisheries resources. In addition, a suite of controls and restrictions according to the Marine

Parks Ordinance (Cap.476) and the Marine Parks and Marine Reserves Regulation (Cap. 476A),

including the control of fishing activities, speed restriction to 10 knots or below and other

anthropogenic disturbance, would further promote the recovery of fisheries resources in the

northern Lantau waters and adjacent area. The fisheries survey findings in the current study

support that marine park can increase the fisheries resources through protection of fisheries

habitat. High fisheries yield was recorded in SCLKCMP, while other survey areas outside

SCLKCMP (except the planned BMP) recorded low to moderate yield only (Section 14.4.3). A

higher ichthyoplankton mean density was also recorded in SCLKCMP (Appendix 14.3).

Therefore, it is indicative that there is a certain protection effect on fisheries resources within

these protected areas.

14.9.1.24 With the implementation of the compensation measure, the potential adverse impact on fisheries

habitats (and resources) will be mitigated to environmental acceptable levels and may have

positive benefit to the conservation of marine ecology and fisheries resources.

Compensation for the Loss of Fishing Ground

14.9.1.25 While it is proposed that fishing activities will be managed through a permit system within the

proposed Marine Park, the potential fisheries resources recovery due to the enhanced protection

measures to be applied for the potential Marine Park including speed restriction, restriction of

anthropogenic disturbance, restriction of fishing in core area and the synergic effect of the

connected marine protected areas with HKIAAA as fisheries no-take zone will benefit the

adjacent fishing ground, thereby reducing the impact on loss of fishing ground. Overseas

examples have demonstrated the benefits of marine protected areas on fishermen operating in

the Marine Park and the adjacent areas. In a study on no-take marine reserve in Apo Island,

Philippines, it was demonstrated that elevated catch and catch rate, together with reduction in

fishing effort, both within and outside the reserve around Apo Island, was observed over 20 years

of its establishment (Russ et al., 2004). At Georges Bank in the Gulf of Maine, a total area of

17,000 km2 was closed to fishing for groundfish, while some forms of fishing such as longlining

were still permitted. It was reported by fishermen that travelling time was reduced as catches

improved. Satellites monitoring also showed scallop-fishing vessels crowding around the edge of

the closed areas as scallop larvae were modeled to be exported from the closed areas to large

regions of the bank outside, thereby increasing the scallop production over there also (Gell and

Roberts, 2003). In the case of the Mombasa Marine Park, the increased catches adjacent to the

marine park led to senior fishers claiming these fishing spots for themselves (Gell and Roberts,

2003). The inclusion of core area within the proposed Marine Park is anticipated to have similar

effects as the Mombasa Marine Park, leading to enhanced catches due to spillover effect which

would benefit the fishermen by reducing their travelling time to look for alternate fishing spots,

and hence compensate for the loss of fishing ground.

14.9.1.26 Based on the successful cases of establishment of marine protected area in enhancing the

fishing efficiency, it is considered the proposed establishment of marine park as compensation

measure for loss of fishing grounds will mitigate the potential adverse impact to acceptable levels.

14.9.1.27 Apart from the positive impact on fisheries resources to the local region that may alleviate the

potential impact on fishermen to low significance, AAHK suggests that a Fisheries Enhancement

Strategy with Fisheries Enhancement Fund should be initiated to support the sustainable

development of the fisheries industry. Details will be discussed in the sections under

enhancement measures.


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14.9.1.28 Given the significance of Marine Park establishment as a key mitigation measure, the successful

establishment of the proposed Marine Park is of key importance. It is not practicable to seek to

designate the proposed new areas of Marine Park while construction activities for the 3RS project

are ongoing. The Administration has made a firm commitment to seek to designate the proposed

marine park of approximately 2,400 ha in the waters north of the 3RS project in accordance with

the statutory process stipulated in the Marine Parks Ordinance, as a mitigation measure for the

habitat loss arising from the construction (and other impacts) of the 3RS project. AAHK will seek

to assist in completing the designation tentatively around 2023 to tie in with the full operation of

the 3RS.

14.9.1.29 AAHK proposes to commence preparatory work and the process of Marine Park establishment as

early as possible, with the target to complete the designation of the proposed Marine Park

tentatively around 2023 to tie in with the full operation of the 3RS. As part of this preparatory work

effort, a thorough consultation of all directly and indirectly affected stakeholders shall be

undertaken.

14.9.1.30 A detailed study initiated and led by AAHK will be carried out during the construction phase to

review relevant previous studies and collate available information on the ecological characters of

the proposed area for marine park designation and review available survey data, marine traffic

and planned development projects in the vicinity. Based on the findings, ecological and fisheries

profiles of the proposed area for marine park designation would be established and the extent

and location of the proposed marine park be determined. The proposed enhancement measures

detailed in Section 13.13 will also be reviewed in light of the marine park designation and AAHK

will consider potential measures that may serve to enhance the effectiveness of the new Marine

Park area with the intention of adding to existing management measures as defined in the Marine

Parks Ordinance where feasible and practicable.

14.10 Residual Impacts

14.10.1.1 The residual impacts refer to the net impacts after mitigation, taking into account the background

environmental conditions and the impacts from existing, committed and planned projects.

Residual impacts associated with the construction and operation phases have been assessed.

14.10.1.2 The permanent loss of up to 672 ha of fisheries habitat and 768 ha of fishing ground would cause

moderate impact significance. While the loss of fisheries habitats and fishing grounds are about

0.4% and 0.5% of the total Hong Kong marine waters and fishing ground respectively, in view of

the scale of the project, the contribution to the cumulative loss of fisheries habitats / fishing

ground is large and the large size to be permanently lost, mitigation measures are considered

required.

14.10.1.3 The total area of the new marine park to be established for this project is approximately 2,400 ha,

which is much greater than the lost habitat and fishing ground of 672 ha / 768 ha respectively.

With full implementation of all proposed mitigation measures in place, it would be expected that

there would be no adverse residual impacts on the loss of fisheries habitats / fishing ground.

There will be a positive impact on the conservation of fisheries resources with the connection of

existing and planned / potential Marine Parks in place.

14.10.1.4 With implementation of the recommended water quality mitigation measures during construction

and operation phases, the disturbance to fisheries habitats and resources through the


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deterioration of water quality will be further minimised. No adverse residual impacts on

disturbance to fisheries habitats and resources will be resulted.

14.11 Enhancement Measures

14.11.1.1 While no adverse residual impact on fisheries due to the proposed project is anticipated, a

number of fisheries enhancement measures are proposed in addition to the aforementioned

mitigation measures with a view to further alleviating the disturbance on fishing activities and

improving the fisheries resources in the northern Lantau waters and supporting the fishing

operation. The enhancement measures are described as follows:

Eco-enhancement of Seawall Design

14.11.1.2 There will be an extension of artificial seawall with a total length of 13 km, which is 7.1 km longer

than the existing north seawall to be removed during the land formation works. Based on the

survey findings, hard corals and gorgonians were found at the northern, western and

northeastern sub-tidal zones of the existing artificial seawalls that are composed of rock armour

and large boulders. While the abundance recorded was low, the gorgonians recorded are

localised in the western Hong Kong waters. Intertidal fauna were also recorded along the

intertidal zones of the artificial seawall. Based on the fisheries survey findings, fish species of

commercial value similar to the species outside HKIAAA were captured. It is anticipated that the

future extension of artificial seawall will provide similar functions as the existing seawall. With the

addition of eco-enhancement design along suitable sections of the future seawalls where the

current flow would be optimal (e.g. the western waters of the future third runway extension

embayment area) may promote re-colonisation of intertidal and sub-tidal fauna. Eco-

enhancement design such as provision of gentle sloping or shallow water where feasible and

provision of shelter can be considered. These designs would provide areas for establishment of

intertidal sessile species and also shelters for juvenile fishes and habitats for other marine fishes

(Curtiss et al., 2006). It was observed from the marine ecology and fisheries survey findings that

the northern artificial seawall has intertidal and sub-tidal fauna recorded, while the marine waters

in vicinity have juvenile and adult fishes of commercial value recorded. The implementation of

eco-enhancement Kansai International has served as an important role as a spawning ground

and enriched the marine life. Aquatic animals that could not be found in the past such as scorpion

fish have settled in the area. (Kansai International Airport, 2012)

Deployment of Artificial Reefs

14.11.1.3 The fisheries survey findings indicated that the western Chek Lap Kok waters near the existing

embayment area of airport island recorded a relatively higher abundance and yield of fisheries

resources (see Appendix 14.3). Artificial reefs (ARs) are proposed to be deployed at the new

embayment area to the west of the airport expansion area and within the future HKIAAA where

hydrodynamic effect and wave action would be less significant and similar to the existing

condition of western Chek Lap Kok waters to promote fisheries resources recovery. As mentioned

in Artificial Reefs and Reef Fish in Hong Kong (Wilson, 2003), ARs are very effective devices for

attracting and supporting large populations of fish by providing complex and hard surface habitat

in areas where only soft bottoms occur. These ARs may provide shelters and promote the

recruitment of fish larvae and juveniles and eventually enhance the fisheries resources of the

local region. Based on the artificial reefs surveys at SCLKCMP, soft corals gorgonian and

macroinvertebrates were observed on the ARs. The fisheries resources monitoring data collected

under AFCD’s AR monitoring programme between 2000 and 2006 at SCLKCMP and the fisheries


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survey conducted for this project indicated that fisheries resources (including larvae and post-

larvae) are available around the deployed ARs. The feasibility of deployment of AR will be further

review in the next stage of study. The detailed proposals and effectiveness of deploying artificial

reefs as enhancement measures will be assessed during the detailed design stage before

deployment. It is considered the proposed AR deployment is not expected to result in impact on

fishing operations as the AR is proposed to be deployed within the future HKIAAA. Fisheries Enhancement Strategy

14.11.1.4 Assessments and mitigation measures described in Section 14.7 and Section 14.9 have

determined that the fisheries impact would be moderate upon completion of land formation

construction but will be mitigated after the marine park establishment with the enhancement of

adjacent fisheries habitats. Apart from the compensation for the loss of fishing ground / fisheries

habitats (and resources) by establishment of marine park with enhancement of fisheries

resources that may benefit to the fishermen, a Fisheries Enhancement Strategy is also proposed

to support the sustainable development of the fisheries industry.

14.11.1.5 The fisheries interview survey findings and Port Survey 2006 suggested that fishing vessels

fishing in the proposed land formation and HKIAAA would be affected. There would be

approximately 150 - 400 fishing vessels affected with the new HKIAAA because fishing activities

will no longer be possible in these areas during the operation phase of the project. As a

consequence, in order to carry on with their fishing activities, these fishermen would need to

change to other nearby marine waters in Hong Kong such as the southern / southwestern Lantau

waters or waters further north of the present SCLKCMP or even fish in nearby Mainland waters.

Some fishermen may consider switching to other fisheries related activities e.g. aquaculture. This

change in operation could lead to increased operating costs due to longer travelling distances,

extra investment in procuring new fishing equipment to suit a changed operating environment,

any initial drop in fish catch due to the time required to adapt to fishing in new waters, etc.

14.11.1.6 In view of the above considerations, it is proposed to formulate and implement a Fisheries

Enhancement Strategy (FES) with the aim of providing support to:

� Assist fishermen operating in the western Hong Kong waters in better coping with required

changes to their fishing activities resulting from the proposed project; and

� Enhance marine ecology and fisheries resources in western Hong Kong waters especially the

Lantau waters.

14.11.1.7 The principles of the FES shall be to:

� Offer a range of practical efforts / measures that would be beneficial to fishermen / fishing

communities affected by the project and the related mitigation measures;

� Provide on-going effort and initiatives to enhance marine fisheries resources and related

habitats and ecosystems; and

� Promote sustainable fisheries operations.

14.11.1.8 Making reference to feedback and suggestions obtained from the fisheries interview survey as

well as from the various stakeholder engagement exercises organised by AAHK (including


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fishermen briefings), it is proposed that the FES should be framed under the following three key

aspect areas:

(a) Support and enhance on-going fisheries operations: For those fishermen that require

to operate in alternative fishing grounds as a result of the construction and operation of the

project, potential measures could include supporting fishermen in adapting their modes of

fishing operation to suit different marine environments; assisting fishermen in improving

their operation efficiency and/or achieving better environmental performance through

purchasing new fishing equipment / upgrading fishing gear; strengthening fisheries

resources by re-stocking / release of suitable fish fry; and monitoring of fisheries resources

at appropriate locations (e.g., within HKIAAA, Marine Parks).

(b) Support measures that assist in shifting fisheries operations: Some fishermen may

consider shifting their modes of fishing operation in view of the project and the latest

fisheries management regime. Potential measures may include provide training to assist

employment opportunities. For those shifting to mariculture or suspending capture fisheries

activities but retaining the existing operation of mariculture activities, assistant could be

provided through training, development of advanced technologies / techniques to improve

fisheries production; enhancement of feed efficiency and fish health by use of improved

fish feed formulas and effective disease prevention measures.

(c) Support the promotion and enhancement of fisheries-related business opportunities:

Potential measures could include supporting fishermen in diversifying their fishing

operations; and training of fishermen on developing and running fisheries-related eco-

tourism or sustainable seafood trading business.

14.11.1.9 The three key FES aspect areas will require significant and ongoing funding over a number of

years in order for the key aims to be realised. AAHK acknowledges responsibility for such with

Fisheries Enhancement Fund, however at this early stage in the development of the FES and its

potential initiatives, further discussion will be conducted at a later stage to determine the exact

funding amount and mechanisms for allocation of funds to proposed initiatives.

14.11.1.10 It is proposed that the FES, associated management arrangements, funding amounts and fund

allocation mechanisms shall be established prior to commencement of the construction phase

of the project. AAHK will continue to engage with a range of fisheries stakeholder groups so that

their concerns and suggestions on fisheries enhancement measures can be taken into

consideration where appropriate during the formulation of the FES and then during FES

implementation.

14.12 Environmental Monitoring and Audit

14.12.1.1 With the implementation of the recommended water quality mitigation measures during

construction and operation phases as well as the proposed establishment of new Marine Park

to compensate the permanent loss of fisheries habitats (and resources), no adverse residual

impact on fisheries is anticipated.

14.12.1.2 The implementation of the water quality mitigation measures should be checked as part of the

environmental monitoring and audit procedures during the construction period as presented in

the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual. Apart from water quality mitigation

measures, the consideration of alternative construction methods e.g. use of non-dredge ground


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improvement methods by DCM would also reduce the potential release of contaminant to the

water column and reduce the indirect impact on fisheries resources. Water quality monitoring

and audit has been proposed at locations covering sites of fisheries importance during

construction and operation phases to monitor the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation

measures, thus fisheries specific monitoring is considered not necessary.

14.13 Conclusion

14.13.1.1 The fisheries impact assessment has been conducted based on the information gathered from

literature review and the completed fisheries surveys to fill the identified information gaps,

especially within HKIAAA (Area 3) where vessel is restricted to enter for security purpose.

Fisheries surveys on marine habitats which would potentially be affected by the third runway

project were carried out. Surveys included fish trawl, purse seine, gill net, hand line, artificial reefs

and fisheries interview to update and supplement the status of fisheries resources and fishing

activities within the study area for a robust fisheries impact assessment.

14.13.1.2 Eight areas were identified as sites of fisheries importance that required for fisheries impact

assessment. These included the spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources in northern

Lantau waters, Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park (SCLKCMP), artificial reefs (ARs) at

SCLKCMP and proposed AR deployment at the planned BMP, Ma Wan Marine Fish Culture

Zone (FCZ), oyster production area at Deep Bay mudflat, area of high production of capture

fisheries off Tai O and the planned BMP.

14.13.1.3 The fisheries surveys indicated that fisheries resources of commercial and non-commercial

values were found within the proposed land formation footprint, but the dominant species in terms

of yield are mainly fishes of low commercial values.

14.13.1.4 The fisheries interview survey indicated that the proposed land formation footprint would be

moderately used by fishermen for capture fisheries. However, the land formation footprint would

not be the major fishing grounds for most of the interviewee, as they would also operate in other

waters to the west or south of Hong Kong. Nevertheless, the loss of fishing ground of size around

1,392 ha during construction phase and 768 ha upon completion of construction will have

moderate impact significance on fishing ground.

14.13.1.5 There will be a permanent loss of 672 ha fisheries habitats which is considered to be of moderate

significance with the project alone and with concurrent projects in place. It is proposed to

compensate for the loss of fisheries habitats / fishing ground by designating a Marine Park to

connect with the existing SCLKCMP, the planned BMP, the Pearl River Chinese White Dolphin

Nature Reserve and the existing / future HKIAAA to improve the ecological connectivity. With

implementation of the proposed compensation measures, there will be positive synergistic effect

on marine ecology and fisheries resources conservation.

14.13.1.6 Managed fishing through a permit system will be allowed in the proposed Marine Park, with the

improved fisheries resources, hence no adverse secondary impact on loss of fishing ground will

be anticipated. Nonetheless, a Fisheries Enhancement Strategy with Fisheries Enhancement

Fund is proposed in addition to the marine park establishment to provide support for the

sustainable development of the fisheries industry.

14.13.1.7 There will be disturbance to fisheries activities during construction and operation of the project as

a result of narrowing of fishing ground between the third runway footprint and SCLKCMP. Conflict


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of usage with other marine users especially construction vessels will result in low impact on the

disturbance to fisheries activities. No fisheries specific mitigation measure is considered required,

but the proposed establishment of new Marine Park would generally enhance the fishing

efficiency by improving the fisheries resources, the disturbance impact on fisheries activities will

also be further reduced.

14.13.1.8 With the implementation of the recommended water quality mitigation measures during

construction and operation phases as well as the proposed establishment of new Marine Park to

compensate the permanent loss of fisheries habitats (and resources), no adverse residual impact

on fisheries is anticipated. Environmental monitoring programme for water quality covering the

sites of fisheries importance would provide an indication of the effectiveness of the water quality

mitigation measures that could reduce fisheries impact. Therefore, specific environmental

monitoring programme for fisheries is considered not necessary.

14.13.1.9 While no adverse residual impact on fisheries due to the proposed project is anticipated, a

number of fisheries monitoring and enhancement measures are proposed through the Fisheries

Enhancement Strategy in addition to the recommended mitigation measures, with a view to

further improving the fisheries resources in the western Hong Kong waters and supporting the

sustainable development of the fisheries industry.

14.14 Reference

ACRP, 2008. Effects of Aircraft Noise: Research Update on Selected Topics. Transportation

Research Board, Washington, DC.

AECOM, 2011. Agreement No. CE 29/2008 (EP) Engineering Investigation and Environmental

Studies for Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1 – Feasibility Study, Environmental

Impact Assessment Report for Environmental Protection Department.

AFCD, 2013a. Hong Kong Artificial Reef Project Website:

http://www.artificial-reef.net/English/main.htm (Information retrieved on 3 June 2013).

AFCD, 2013b. Monitoring – Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Parks, Website:

http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_mar/cou_vis_mar_mon/cou_vis_mar_mon_

eco_sclkc.html (Information retrieved on 18 February 2014).

AFCD, 2014. Fisheries Branch Webpage :

http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/fish_abt/fish_abt.html (Information retrieved on 13 May

2014).

Anasco, N. C., Koyama J, Imai S, Nakamura K., 2008. Toxicity of residual chlorines from

hypochliorite-treated seawater to marine amphipod Hyale barbicornis and estuarine fish Oryzias

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Three-Runway System Environmental Impact Assessment Report 14. Fisheries … · 2014. 6. 19. · 14.2.1.1 The following legislation, standards and guidelines related to capture and