Fisheries Agency Raids and Seizes 30 Tons of Illegally Caught Prohibited Black Sharks, Maximum Fine of 10 Million

On the 13th, the Fisheries Agency conducted an unload inspection of the Pacific small fishing vessel "Jinchang No. 6" and found that the vessel had illegally caught more than 30 tons of "smooth hammerhead shark" (commonly known as black shark). Fisheries Agency Deputy Director-General Lin Guoping stated that this is the largest case of illegal fishing of prohibited species since the implementation of the Distant Water Fisheries Act, "with the largest quantity illegally caught." The Fisheries Agency has detained and sealed all of the vessel's catch. The shipowner may be fined between 2 million and 10 million New Taiwan dollars, and in the most serious case, the fishing license may be revoked.

Is Jinchang No. 6 a repeat offender? Fisheries Agency: Further investigation needed

The shipowner is involved in illegal fishing of prohibited species, false catch reporting, and the failure to keep fins and bodies separate. For the illegal fishing of prohibited species alone, under Article 36 of the Distant Water Fisheries Act, a fine of 2 million to 10 million New Taiwan dollars may be imposed, and the fishing license may be revoked for up to two years, or the fishing license may be revoked. Lin Guoping pointed out that the above are preliminary observations by inspectors, and complete information still needs to be gathered, and the shipowner must be asked to explain the questionable points before further judgment and handling. It is roughly estimated that a definitive decision will only be available after one week.

It is worth mentioning that in March of this year, the Fisheries Agency fined the owner of the Kaohsiung Port-registered CT6 longline tuna distant-water fishing vessel "Jinchang No. 17" 4.41 million and the captain 800,000 because the reported quantity differed too much from the actual unloaded quantity. "Jinchang No. 17" and this case's "Jinchang No. 6," which illegally caught prohibited species, have similar names. Could they possibly belong to the same shipowner? In response, Lin Guoping said, "It is possible, but further investigation is still needed."