Fishing communities sit at a unique intersection of ecological capacity, jobs and livelihoods, and cultural heritage. Supporting fishing communities at the local level requires innovative policies and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong SAR), China, has implemented various strategies to support the fishing community in Tai O, a historic fishing village.
Credit: Travel Caffeine
Background
Tai O is Hong Kong’s oldest surviving fishing village, with a history dating back to the 14th century. The area is settled by the Tanka people, a boat-dwelling Chinese ethnic group who made their living from fishing. Reviving Tai O’s fishing community thus holds significant historical and cultural value.
However, as Hong Kong developed, residents in Tai O gradually migrated to the city centre in search of better livelihoods. Several factors contributed to this transition: better educational opportunities for the next generation, a weakening sense of belonging to the fishing community, and stereotypes about fishermen. This decline in population, especially among the younger generation, poses a challenge in conserving the fishing community.
Moreover, Tai O’s fishing community competes with external, multinational fishing corporations that benefit from economies of scale. This further deepens the dilemma faced by the fishing community.
To preserve the community and its history, and to ensure that villagers who stay in Tai O can sustain decent livelihoods, the Hong Kong Government has implemented various strategies to support the fishing community. Broadly, they can be categorised into financial support, technical assistance, and integration with tourism.
Credit: AwayGoWe
Financial support
The Hong Kong Government has approved two types of grants to support the fishing community in Tai O.
Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund
This Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund, managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), aims to help the local fishing community move towards sustainable or high-value-added operations, enhancing its overall competitiveness and its capacity to cope with new challenges.
The fund supports the fishing community in procuring new equipment, attending training courses, promoting local seafood, and implementing other projects that help the industry adopt new technologies and intensify production.
The fund is open to any companies and institutes operating in Hong Kong that have a close connection with the fishery industry.
Over the past three years, grants have been approved for 226 aquaculture farmers, including 120 marine fish farmers and 106 pond fish farmers, to acquire modernised equipment. The total amount of grants approved was about $11.28 million.
Lantau Conservation Fund
The HKD 1 billion Lantau Conservation Fund was set up by the Hong Kong Government to promote conservation and pursue minor local development work in villages and communities. One key focus is preserving Tai O’s traditional fishing heritage and stilt-house culture.
The fund finances projects that document, study, and promote Tai O’s unique fishing culture. For instance, the “Mini-Documentary Film Production Workshop Series” helps the younger generation learn about Tai O’s fishing history.
The fund supports Tai O’s fishing community by strengthening the younger generation’s connection to Tai O, curating the story of Tai O’s fishery industry and promoting the brand of local seafood.
Training programmes
The Hong Kong Government promotes fishery modernisation through training programmes relating to smart fish culture in accordance with the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The AFCD collaborates with a local institute, the Vocational Training Council, to jointly nurture talent for modernised aquaculture through subsidies and training programmes. In addition, the AFCD organised about 70 short-term training activities for the industry over the past three years. These cover topics including Internet of Things (IoT) applications, real-time monitoring technologies, indoor recirculating aquaculture systems, and smart aquaculture management, supporting fishermen to intensify production and sustain their livelihoods.
The accumulated number of attendees reached 770, with an overall attendance rate exceeding 90%.
Integration with tourism
The Hong Kong Government supports Tai O’s community by transforming its maritime heritage into a sustainable tourism driver that creates local jobs.
Community-led initiatives: the government facilitates guided tours led by local fishermen, who steer visitors through the stilt-house waterways. Additionally, the Tai O Historic and Cultural Showroom showcases donated fishing relics and historical photographs, ensuring tourists learn about the authentic lifestyle of the Tanka people directly from the community’s own history.
Preserving living heritage: the government actively promotes the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade—a sacred ritual inscribed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Towed through stilt-house waterways by local fishermen, this event is supported by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office through public educational programs, attracting global travellers directly to local shops and eateries.
The tourism-driven development transforms Tai O’s fishermen into storytellers, offering tourists authentic insights into traditional stilt-house living and artisanal seafood production. By elevating Tai O’s brand into a model of living cultural heritage, this connection drives tourist spending on local products, securing sustainable livelihoods directly for the villagers.
Credit: Intangible Culture Heritage Office (left) and Get Your Guide (right)
Conclusion
The revitalization of Tai O demonstrates that the decline of traditional fishing communities is not inevitable. Through a balanced combination of financial aid, modern technical training, and community-led heritage tourism, the Hong Kong Government has created a robust framework for rural preservation. Rather than forcing fishermen to abandon their heritage to survive, these initiatives empower them to modernise their trade and capitalise on their rich cultural history. Ultimately, Tai O serves as a compelling blueprint for how governments can successfully preserve cultural identities, sustain local economies, and bridge the gap between historic traditions and modern sustainable development.
