A government initiative to regulate the import and re-export of toothfish, commonly known as Chilean sea bass, has been welcomed by a green group.
The government will extend the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources to the species inhabiting Antarctic waters.
World Wildlife Fund senior conservation officer Allen To Wai-lun said the convention has not been extended to Hong Kong despite China being a member of the treaty.
“This creates a loophole where businesses can import and trade toothfish through Hong Kong to other parts of the world,” the organization said.
The conservation group has been calling on the government to consider acceding to the convention since 2010.
“If the convention is implemented comprehensively and effectively in Hong Kong, it will steer Hong Kong away from tacitly supporting illegal, unregulated and unreported toothfish fisheries in Antarctic waters, move toward improved seafood traceability and inspire Hong Kong citizens and businesses to help drive the long-term sustainable use of the world’s ocean resources,” WWF said.
Hong Kong can play a crucial part in stopping illegal toothfish fisheries, which have been operating for more than a decade, despite the convention’s attempts to control the trade.
These fisheries have compromised the effective management of toothfish resources in Antarctica as well as posing threats to by-catch species such as seabirds and sharks, it said.
Although the amount of toothfish consumed is less than 0.5 percent of total consumption of seafood in Hong Kong; the amount imported into the SAR is significant.
Some 1,017 tonnes are imported, which represented 6.5 percent of the total volume of toothfish exported by contracting parties last year.
To said WWF will closely monitor the progress of the legislation through the Legislative Council and urge the government to establish a comprehensive and effective legislation framework to implement the convention in Hong Kong as soon as possible. STAFF REPORTER