The government must follow the latest international fisheries regulations, Premier Sean Chen said today after hearing the Council of Agriculture's (COA) report on Taiwan's deep-sea fishery industrial adjustment and global deployment strategies.
The latest regulations not only strengthen the responsibility of the states whose flags the fishing boats fly but also demand that the countries of the crewmen and beneficial owners take responsibility for the boats' actions.
"Being charged with illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities would be disadvantageous to Taiwan's long-term fishing development," said the premier, who added that deep-sea fishing carries great strategic significance for the nation's economy, food security and diplomacy. He requested that the COA join hands with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Coast Guard Administration to foster a secure, sustainable fishing environment and serve as a responsible stakeholder in the management of international fishing resources.
"Taiwan is a major deep-sea fishing country. It is the world's top tuna fisher, and its catch of Pacific saury is second globally. This industry not only makes profits for itself but also contributes to national economic development and creates jobs by driving related businesses in shipbuilding, aquatic product processing, shipping, trade, and repair and supply," indicated Chen.
A new managerial order for deep-sea fisheries has been established. Individual quota allocations will replace the former system, known as Olympic-style fishing or the "race for fish," under which a quota and start date were set for a fishery as a whole, and boats "raced" to net as much of the limit as possible before the area was closed.
"The international community is increasingly emphasizing ecological conservation and crackdowns on illegal fishing. Taiwan, as a major player in the industry, needs to shoulder its international responsibility and make contributions in these fields," the premier said.
According to the COA, Taiwan ranks among the world's top 20 fishing countries, with 73 overseas fishing bases across the three major oceans and global product distribution channels. However, deep-sea fishing has become a highly internationalized industry, and relevant issues such as bilateral fishing cooperation, maritime affairs and disputes, international trade and participation in world organizations have all involved international laws and diplomatic negotiations. Moreover, Taiwan cannot avoid the impact of changes in the international regulatory environment. As such, it needs to comply with the latest trends of international fishery management and devote expenses and manpower to the following issues:
1.Proactively participating in international organizations
2.Continuing to adjust fishing capacity
3.Expediting the replacement of obsolete vessels
4.Joining forces with other countries to combat IUU activity
5.Continuing to upgrade ecological conservation
6.Reinforcing bilateral cooperation
7.Strengthening the education and training of fishermen