Learning from the Past to Build a Sustainable Fishery in Sai Kung, Hong Kong

From January 2013 trawling is banned in Hong Kong, providing an opportunity to re-establish an inshore fishery. This research investigates whether information from past practices can support re-birth of a sustainable fishery in the Sai Kung area. The Sai Kung community provides an excellent venue to explore links between the past and present because it was the subject of seminal anthropological investigations and it remains possible to interview long time fisherpeople. It’s famous for seafood, but ironically dependent on imported fish, and thus provides an opportunity to examine whether governance of urban fisheries can contribute to global fishery sustainability. Through literature research and interviews we investigated 1) possibities to reset the baseline of fish catch thereby stimulating a sustainable fishery; 2) if pre-trawling self-governance methods could be adapted to the present. Findings are set against present circumstances of the fisher people culture, and the market for Sai Kung fish in local restaurants. We found limited support for transposing past knowledge and practices. The species of previous catches have limited markets today and cannot easily be framed as local brands. Previous fishing self-governance supported freedom of fishing rather than control over territories or other practices. The fishing community has moved on and look upon themselves as the last generation. With education, and government intervention, fisherpeople increased environmental awareness and see their futures intertwined with tourism and better employment for their children. It seems Sai Kung and Hong Kong’s dependence on imported fish is set to continue.