Hong Kong Celebrates 2026 National Fish Releasing Day with 62,000 Juvenile Fish Restocked to Enhance Marine Resources

Fish restocking exercise on National Fish Releasing Day 2026 held

To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, said that The Government has been actively conducting restocking exercises to enhance marine resources as outlined in the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries. The theme of the restocking activity this year, "Restocking for an Everlasting Ocean", stresses the value of restocking, which is to allow marine resources to thrive and to sustain, and to leave a living and harmonious marine environment for our future generations. The AFCD will organise a number of workshops about restocking for the public and the education sector, to embed the concept of science-based restocking deeply in the community and schools.

Following the launch ceremony, representatives from the AFCD, the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, Ocean Park Hong Kong and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong released some 62 000 juvenile fish of native species, including black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii), yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus), red seabream (Pagrus major), and two newly added species this year: short barbeled velvetchin (Hapalogenys nigripinnis) and giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus), in Yan Chau Tong Marine Park and South Lantau Marine Park. The diverse habitats in these two marine parks, such as artificial reefs, coral communities, natural rocky reefs and boulders, provide suitable habitats for the juvenile fish. Existing fisheries management measures also offer effective protection for their growth. The AFCD and its collaborating organisations will conduct regular underwater surveys to record the status of released fish and monitor the status of local fisheries resources as a whole.

The restocking exercise, supported by the Urban Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, the Marine Development Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, the Hong Kong Fishermen Consortium, the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, Ocean Park Hong Kong and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, brought together about 150 students, representatives from religious groups, fishermen's associations and green groups, and volunteers from Shenzhen, etc. The AFCD also released a restocking leaflet today to introduce information about the science-based restocking to the public and provide guidelines for organisations interested in conducting restocking. Later this year, the AFCD will jointly organise more workshops with the Urban Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality and the Marine Development Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality to further enhance understanding about science-based restocking among the public and the education sector.

The AFCD reminds the public to think carefully before participating in animal release activities to avoid affecting the ecological environment or causing unnecessary suffering to animals. Members of the public are encouraged to participate in science-based restocking or other charitable activities as alternatives to improper animal releases.

To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) juveniles for release. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows short barbeled velvetchin (Hapalogenys nigripinnis) juveniles for release. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows red seabream (Pagrus major) juveniles for release. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) juveniles for release. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) juveniles for release. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, speaking at the launch ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

To mark the National Fish Releasing Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (June 6) co-organised restocking activities with various local organisations and released juvenile fish in different waters of Hong Kong, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as to deepen public understanding about restocking. Photo shows (from left) the Chairman of Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund Advisory Committee, Professor Wong Ka-hing; the Chairman of Hong Kong Fishermen Consortium, Mr Cheung Siu-keung; Legislative Council Members, Mr Chan Pok-chi, Mr Yiu Pak-leung; the President of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, Ven Kuan Yun; Legislative Council member Ms Judy Chan; the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai; the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong; Deputy Director General of the New Territories Sub-office of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Ms Zhu Yihua; Legislative Council Member Mr Chan Hak-kan; the Chairman of the Board of Ocean Park Corporation, Mr Paulo Pong; Legislative Council Member Mr Steven Ho; Deputy Department Director of Shenzhen Marine Development Promotion Center, Mr Zhang Yuhai; and the Chairman of Marine Parks Committee, Professor Qiu Jianwen, officiating at the launch ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH convenes 14th Meeting of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards

The Department of Health (DH) today (July 14) convened the 14th Meeting of the International Advisory Board (IAB) on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HKCMMS) to review the reference standards for 16 types of Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) commonly used in Hong Kong, and to discuss the future development of the HKCMMS. Over 60 experts from the Chinese Mainland, overseas and Hong Kong attended the meeting.

Since 2002, the DH has been implementing the HKCMMS project in phases to develop standards for commonly used CMM in Hong Kong to ensure their safety and quality.

In his opening remarks, the Director of Health and the Chairperson of the IAB, Dr Ronald Lam, said, "One of the key initiatives of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) under the DH is the implementation of the HKCMMS. With the publication of the Volume 12 of the HKCMMS, standards for 357 types of CMM have been established so far. They have become widely recognised international reference standards for Chinese medicine testing and certification, thereby promoting the high-quality scientific development of Chinese medicine. In addition, the work of GCMTI is closely aligned with national priorities. The National 15th Five-Year Plan made it clear that we need to 'advance the inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine' and 'promote the integration of Chinese and Western medicine'. It also calls for us to 'strengthen the conservation and utilisation of Chinese medicine resources', 'improve the quality of Chinese medicine, and build up and strengthen the Chinese medicine industry'. These are exactly the goals that the HKCMMS Project is helping to achieve - by setting rigorous quality standards for CMM and conducting applied research and development on testing methods that underpin the entire industry, establishing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as a bridgehead for the global expansion of Chinese Medicine."

Dr Lam emphasised that the success of the HKCMMS project depends on the active collaboration of stakeholders across different sectors. He expressed his sincere appreciation to the four research partners attending the meeting, commending their dedicated contributions to advancing the project's research efforts. They were the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the China Medical University. He also thanked the Government Laboratory for conducting inter-laboratory verification studies. Dr Lam emphasised that these collaborations are crucial for establishing a rigorous and solid scientific foundation for the HKCMMS and gaining international credibility. The DH is also deeply grateful to the National Medical Products Administration, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission for their continuous valuable advice and support in developing the HKCMMS. To align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to advance the inheritance, innovation and high-quality development of Chinese medicine, expand and promote Chinese medicine culture, the DH will continue to steadfastly promote the development of Chinese medicine and better integrate into and serve the overall national development.

The two-day meeting brought together experts from the Chinese Mainland, Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as representatives from research institutions, the DH and the Government Laboratory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The 16 types of CMM commonly used in Hong Kong that were discussed at the meeting included Bambusae Caulis in Taenias, Pyrolae Herba, Natrii Sulfas, Dichroae Radix, Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma, Cynanchi Atrati Radix et Rhizoma, Jasmini Flos, Tinosporae Caulis, Inulae Flos, Haematitum, Lasiosphaera seu Calvatia, Vespae Nidus, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Aconiti Kusnezoffii Folium, Meliae Cortex and Tripterygii Wilfordii Radix.

Previous editions of the HKCMMS can be accessed at the website of the Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office of the DH.

DH convenes 14th Meeting of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH convenes 14th Meeting of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH convenes 14th Meeting of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases