Since last winter, rare but deadly red tides containing harmful algae have resulted in the deaths of more than 36 tonnes of cultured fish, with the impacted areas extending from Tolo Harbour to Long Harbour.
The red tides have caused the mariculture industry an estimated loss of HKD100 million in one month alone, SCMP reports.
The scale and severity of the disaster have been compared to the one in 1998, when 80 percent of Hong Kong fish farm stocks were destroyed.
The catastrophe has led the government to launch an emergency relief fund for all the mariculturists affected at Yim Tin Tsai, Yim Tin Tsai (East), Yung Shue Au, Lo Fu Wat, Sham Wan, Tap Mun and Kau Lau Wan fish culture zones.
The day before yesterday, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced that further relief, of up to HKD7,260, will be provided in addition to the primary producer grants to eligible mariculturists.
Yesterday, the government started disbursing the additional Emergency Relief Fund grants to the 209 approved applicants, totalling HKD1.37 million.
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