AFCD restocks fish on National Fish Releasing Day 2024 (with photos)
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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) launched a fish-restocking exercise today (June 6), the designated National Fish Releasing Day, concurrently with other exercises nationwide, with an aim to restore and enhance aquatic resources as well as raising public awareness of the conservation of aquatic resources and the need to improve the aquatic habitat.
At the launching ceremony, the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, said, “Today is the National Fish Releasing Day designated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Hence, fish restocking exercises are launched nationwide concurrently to restore and enhance aquatic resources. To actively respond to this initiative, we are launching a fish restocking exercise locally.
“In the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries released by the Government in collaboration with the agriculture and fisheries sectors last December, the implementation of restocking, that is releasing appropriate fish species with a science-based method to let them grow and breed in a natural environment for the conservation and enhancement of marine resources and ecology, was put forward,” Miss Wong added.
She pointed out that the AFCD has been reminding members of the public to think carefully before participating in animal release activities to avoid affecting the ecological environment or causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
She stressed that the AFCD encouraged members of the public to consider, in lieu of animal releases not properly conducted, other virtuous actions and living habits such as environmental protection, tree planting, forest protection and vegetarianism, etc. The relevant publicity and education work has achieved significant results. Through this public activity, the AFCD encourages members of the public to support and participate in science-based restocking, with a view to raising public awareness of the conservation of marine resources and the ecological environment, and replace animal releases not properly conducted.
The AFCD today released some 18 000 Hong Kong grouper (Epinephelus akaara), star snapper (Lutjanus stellatus) and black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) fingerlings in Yan Chau Tong Marine Park (YCTMP). These released fingerlings, being native species with declining populations, are from reputable hatcheries and in good health. With artificial reefs, natural rocky reefs and boulders as habitats, and a ban on commercial fishing in place, YCTMP provides a favourable habitat for the released fingerlings. The AFCD will conduct underwater visual surveys regularly to monitor the condition of the released fingerlings, and expects that the restocking exercise can raise the population of the relevant native fish species.
The fish restocking exercise today, supported by the Hong Kong Buddhist Association and the Hong Kong Fishermen Consortium, brought together about 100 representatives from religious groups, fishery bodies and green groups, etc. The AFCD will also arrange for students to take part in other restocking exercises later this year.
May 28, 2024 | International
Police National Security Department mounts enforcement action
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The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force today (May 28) arrested five women and a man (six persons in total), aged between 37 and 65, in various districts including Tai Lam Centre for Women, on suspicion of committing “Offences in Connection with Seditious Intention”, contravening Section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.
In addition, the Police conducted searches at the residences of the five arrested persons with court warrants, and seized some items relevant to the case, including some electronic communication devices suspectedly used for publishing messages with seditious intention.
Investigation revealed that a woman, remanded in custody, had exploited an upcoming sensitive date to repeatedly publish posts with seditious intention on a social platform anonymously with the assistance of the other five arrested persons since April 2024, with content provoking hatred towards the Central Authorities and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Judiciary, as well as inciting netizens to organise or participate in relevant illegal activities at a later stage.
This was a law enforcement action taken by the Police in accordance with the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Offences in connection with seditious intention are very serious crimes, with a maximum penalty of up to seven years’ imprisonment. Those who intend to endanger national security should not have any delusion to evade police investigation by using anonymous means on the Internet. Members of the public must discern fact from fallacy and should not be misled by erroneous and twisted information, or even be incited to participate in illegal activities or acts that endanger national security.
May 19, 2024 | Business
WEBWIRE – Friday, May 17, 2024
To mark the 2024 presidential election, the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery will present Picturing the Presidents: Daguerreotypes and Ambrotypes from the National Portrait Gallerys Collection. This exhibition features historic photographic portraits of 11 men who held the nations highest office. Curated by Senior Curator of Photographs Ann Shumard, the exhibition will be on view May 31, 2024, through June 8, 2025.
Exhibition highlights include the 1843 daguerreotype of John Quincy Adamsthe earliest surviving photograph of a U.S. President. Also of note is an ambrotype pin created to promote Abraham Lincolns candidacy for President in 1860. This rare example of campaign ephemera reproduces Mathew Bradys first photograph of Lincolnan image credited with contributing to Lincolns victory at the polls.
The vintage daguerreotypes and ambrotypes in this exhibition are among the treasures of the Portrait Gallerys collection, Shumard said. They offer visitors a unique opportunity to view some of the earliest photographic likenesses of our nations Presidents.
Picturing the Presidents also presents images of two Presidents whose terms in office predated photographys introduction in 1839. George Washington is pictured in a daguerreotype of Gilbert Stuarts famous 1796 painting, while an ambrotype of Andrew Jackson reproduces a painted miniature of the nations seventh President. The exhibition includes daguerreotypes of Martin Van Buren, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan and Chester Arthur. A coda to these representations of the nations early presidents is a modern daguerreotype documenting the 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama.
As one-of-a-kind objects, daguerreotypes and ambrotypes enjoyed only limited circulation. However, they inspired a host of popular prints that reached countless American households. Three such prints picturing John Quincy Adams, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan are included in Picturing the Presidents.
This exhibition complements the museums Americas Presidents gallery, which displays portraits of all past U.S. Presidents in a variety ofmedia.
National Portrait Gallery
The Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery tells the multifaceted story of the United States through the individuals who have shaped American culture. Spanning the visual arts, performing arts and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives tell the nations story.
The National Portrait Gallery is located at Eighth and G streets N.W., Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Information: (202) 633-1000. Connect with the museum atnpg.si.eduand onFacebook,Instagram,XandYouTube.
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