After nearly five years of fishing moratorium, mackerel body length has recovered, and the Fisheries Agency plans to open the "Honghuoxin fishing ground" to fishing boats of 100 tonnes and above for mackerel fishing

In consideration of the depletion of mackerel resources, the Fisheries Agency formulated the "Regulations Governing the Mackerel and Scad Fishery" in 2013, requiring that in June, the growing period for mackerel, neither large nor small boats may fish, and that boats of 100 tonnes and above may not operate within 12 nautical miles. As mackerel body length and resources have gradually recovered, the Fisheries Agency is currently studying a plan to reopen the Su'ao Honghuoxin sea area (about 6-12 nautical miles from shore) to boats of 100 tonnes and above for operation from January to May each year, with the number of operations limited to no more than 80.

Regarding boats of 100 tonnes and above entering 12 nautical miles to fish, fishermen's associations and scholars in various places hold different opinions. The Keelung Fishermen's Association said that after the opening, if large boats do not obey the law and take the opportunity to enter 3 or 4 nautical miles to fish, it will affect the livelihoods of small fishing boat households. The Su'ao Fishermen's Association believes that mackerel are no longer as small as before, so it should be opened first and then reviewed on a rolling basis. Lee Kuo-tien, former president of National Taiwan Ocean University, who has long investigated mackerel resources, said that after nearly five years of fishing ban measures, mackerel resources are gradually recovering, and mature body length has already reached 30 cm, so it could be opened temporarily for one year, and in the second year a resource assessment would be conducted for review.

News background: Taiwan, China's mackerel has mainly two spawning grounds, one located near Pengjia Islet in the north, and the other in the Su'ao Honghuoxin sea area. Mackerel can mainly be divided into white-bellied mackerel and spotted mackerel. Su'ao Honghuoxin is the main spawning area for spotted mackerel, and from January to May each year, groups of mother mackerel come here to spawn. Because of its abundant fish stocks and calm waves, fishermen flock here to catch mackerel.