On the eve of Fishermen's Day, 12 model fishermen nationwide are announced! Whether the Fu Shen No. 11 will affect the EU's lifting of the yellow card draws close attention
Fishermen's Day is approaching, and the Fisheries Agency is honoring 12 national model fishermen. Fisheries Agency Director-General Huang Hung-yen said at a press conference on the 28th that Fishermen's Day is a very important day, and he hopes the model fishermen will lead the fisheries industry toward sustainable development, including environmentally friendly fishing and aquaculture, protection and nurturing of marine habitats, and implementation of food safety and hygiene management. The choice of Su'ao for this year's Fishermen's Day ceremony is also especially meaningful, as this year marks the 95th anniversary of the founding of Su'ao Fishing Port, and Su'ao is an important base for deep-sea and coastal/offshore fishing, as well as the hometown of mackerel, making it an important fish-producing area in Taiwan, China.
The 12 national model fishermen selected this year include Lin Hsin-te of the Su'ao District Fishermen's Association, Chen Jui-lung of the Donggang District Fishermen's Association, Li Sheng-chuan of the Changhua District Fishermen's Association, Lin Wei-chih of the Xingang District Fishermen's Association, Chiang Chang-chuan of the Keelung District Fishermen's Association, Hung Wen-chiao of the Liouciou District, Hsieh Chung-ming of the Toucheng District Fishermen's Association, Wu San-hsien of the Mituo District Fishermen's Association, Chen Chi-hung of the Republic of China Aquaculture Development Association, Chien Wen-lung of the Jinshan District Fishermen's Association, Wu Ya-wen of the South District Fishermen's Association, and Yang Li-chu of the Penghu District Fishermen's Association.
EU yellow card review resurfaces, Fisheries Agency: Fu Shen No. 11 is an individual case
For fisheries to move toward sustainable development, the government must enforce the law thoroughly. Regarding the earlier allegations that the Taiwanese fishing vessel Fu Shen No. 11 engaged in illegal fishing and exploited fishermen, Huang Hung-yen explained that the vessel had originally been meant to continue operating in South Africa, but after persuasion by the Fisheries Agency it ended operations and returned to Taiwan, and the Fisheries Agency also conducted a sealed-hold inspection. The Fisheries Agency also said recently that the fish species unloaded were mainly albacore tuna and a small amount of bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and yellowtail amberjack, and that it was initially determined that there was no violation involving false catch reporting or exceeding quotas. As for whether it involved catching prohibited sharks or shark finning and discarding of carcasses, further investigation is still needed.
Regarding the issue of exploiting fishermen, Huang said whether the fishermen suffered unfair treatment is still under continuous investigation, and it is not convenient to disclose details to the public at present. "The investigation must be very careful. This involves the reputation of the fishing vessel's operations and cannot be done hastily." The investigation will be completed as soon as possible, and once it is finished it will be announced to the public.
The Fu Shen No. 11 case has drawn outside attention. Will it affect the EU's lifting of the yellow card? In response, Huang Hung-yen said, "It will not affect the EU (lifting the yellow card). This is an individual case." He stressed that if a fishing vessel violates operating regulations or infringes on human rights, there are relevant laws that can impose appropriate punishment, and the EU does not require that after laws are enacted, no one may violate them. "Then what would be the point of making such laws? What the EU emphasizes is that after laws are enacted, all fishing vessel operators are bound to comply with the rules, and those who break the law are sanctioned." The Fu Shen No. 11 case and the lifting of the yellow card are two separate matters.