Heavy Fines for Illegal Fishing! Jin Chang No. 6 Fined 11.4 Million for Killing Black Sharks, Internationally Watched Fu Sheng No. 11 Fined 3.75 Million, License Revoked for 5 Months
The Taiwanese fishing vessel Fu Sheng No. 11 was accused of violating bans on catching protected fish species, finning sharks and discarding their bodies, and mistreating foreign fishermen with insufficient wages. The Fisheries Agency announced the investigation results today (the 4th), confirming that the vessel was involved in failing to accurately report catch data, hiring non-Taiwanese crew without permission, insufficient wages, excessively long working hours, and early contract termination, resulting in a total fine of 3.75 million yuan and the revocation of the vessel's fishing license for 5 months. Among these, for failing to pay foreign fishermen the statutory wage of 450 US dollars, a separate fine of 250,000 yuan was imposed along with a three-month license suspension, marking the first time Taiwan has imposed a fine for this type of violation.
Previously, Jin Chang No. 6 was confirmed to have illegally caught smooth hammerhead sharks (black sharks) and spotted eagle rays (flower sharks), resulting in fines totaling 11.4 million yuan imposed on the vessel owner and captain, along with the revocation of the fishing license for 6 months and the captain's fisherman's handbook for 6 months.
Did Taiwan Deny It When the Incident First Occurred? Fisheries Agency: Must Investigate Rigorously
When the Fu Sheng No. 11 case first broke, the Fisheries Agency immediately issued a statement clarifying that there were no violations, but after reopening the investigation, problems such as catching protected species and violating fishermen's rights were discovered, a dramatic reversal. In response, Wang Mao-cheng explained that when Fu Sheng No. 11 was detained in South Africa, inspections by South African authorities and Taiwanese officials simply did not find any protected species being caught, because catching protected species constitutes a major violation with fines starting at 2 million yuan, so the Fisheries Agency had to investigate more rigorously, and only reopened the investigation after the vessel returned to Taiwan.
Jin Chang No. 6 Violated the Ban on Catching Protected Species, Fined 11.4 Million Yuan
In addition, the Fisheries Agency also announced that evidence of Jin Chang No. 6 illegally catching large quantities of black sharks and flower sharks was clear, with the offloading inspection results showing the total weight of protected black sharks and flower sharks exceeding 30 tons, all of which has been seized. For the vessel owner and captain, in accordance with Article 36 of the Distant Water Fisheries Act, the vessel operator was fined 9.5 million New Taiwan dollars and had its fishing license revoked for 6 months, and the captain was fined 1.9 million New Taiwan dollars and had his fisherman's handbook revoked for 6 months, with the illegal catch to be destroyed.
Lifting the Yellow Card Made Worse? Chen Chi-chung: Fines Have Nothing to Do with Lifting the Yellow Card
The public is concerned about whether these two cases will make it harder for Taiwan to have its yellow card lifted or whether they will be more helpful. Council of Agriculture Deputy Minister Chen Chi-chung emphasized that this action has nothing to do with whether the yellow card is lifted; it is for the sustainable development of the fishing industry. Publicizing the enforcement process and strictly imposing fines is equivalent to declaring the Fisheries Agency's determination to enforce regulations and prevent fishing vessels from violating the law, especially regarding the prohibition on catching protected species.
Chen Chi-chung stated that three years ago, Taiwan received a yellow card from the European Union, and Taiwan adjusted the legal framework, monitoring, and traceability for distant water fisheries. From last year through the end of September this year, 123 penalties have been issued, totaling over 107 million yuan. The Fisheries Agency has also continuously conducted educational outreach to distant water fishing vessel owners and fishermen, and subsequent violations will gradually decrease. For distant water fisheries to develop sustainably, it is not just about removing the EU yellow card, but also actively ensuring the rights of distant water fishermen, including a minimum monthly salary of 450 US dollars, a complaint hotline, a pilot intermediary evaluation this year, and working environment surveys.
Regarding external discussions on whether distant water fishermen should be the responsibility of the Fisheries Agency, or whether foreign fishermen should be included under the Labor Standards Act, comply with the International Labour Organization's Work in Fishing Convention (ILO 188), or have a separate law enacted. Chen Chi-chung stated that discussions are still ongoing, but before the system is finalized, the Fisheries Agency will actively ensure human rights, which is the basic responsibility of a human rights country. "This has nothing to do with whether the yellow card is removed, but rather with the sustainable operation of distant water fisheries."
Huang Hung-yen also pointed out that the Distant Water Fisheries Act has been enforced for a year and a half now, and violations have significantly decreased this year, though a few violation cases are inevitable. Announcing the inspection results and penalties today is not for the purpose of punishment, but to raise industry awareness and prevent operators from unintentionally violating the law.
Environmental Justice Foundation: Hope Severe Fines Will Warn Intermediaries
Regarding the Fisheries Agency's inspection report results, Chiu Shao-chi responded with encouragement for the Fisheries Agency's willingness to investigate, but found it "very regrettable that the investigation was only conducted after pressure from human rights groups." Regarding fishermen's rights, the Fisheries Agency's investigation results matched those of human rights groups, "we just hope that more severe penalties can be imposed to warn other intermediary units." She also hopes the District Prosecutors Office can truly handle the investigation in accordance with the Human Trafficking Prevention Act.