The glass eel fishing season has ended; fishing is prohibited from March to October

The glass eel fishing season ended on February 29. According to the Council of Agriculture's announcement of the "Regulations Governing the Control of the Glass Eel Fishing Season," except for Hualien County and Taitung County, in the sea areas within 3 nautical miles of the coast, intertidal zones and estuary waters under the jurisdiction of other counties and cities, fishing for glass eels is prohibited from March 1, 2020 to October 31. Operators engaged in glass eel fishing are asked to comply and jointly maintain the sustainability of the glass eel fishery.

At present, the glass eels needed for eel farming still depend on natural fry. To take into account both fishermen's livelihoods and allowing some glass eels to swim upstream and grow, according to the "Regulations Governing the Control of the Glass Eel Fishing Season," from March to October each year, it is prohibited to catch glass eels by any means in sea areas within 3 nautical miles of the coast, intertidal zones and estuary waters. It is hoped that, on the premise of taking into account both industry and resource sustainability, some glass eels can be allowed to migrate upstream and grow, thereby increasing eel resources.

Glass eel fishing is an important industry in our country. At present, eel resources have been gradually decreasing, and conservation work brooks no delay. According to the "Regulations Governing the Control of the Glass Eel Fishing Season," the regulated targets include those engaged in fishing by "manual labor" along the coast, as well as those engaged in fishing at sea by fishing boat (raft). Those who violate the glass eel closed fishing season regulations will be fined not less than NT$30,000 and not more than NT$150,000. Fishermen are urged to comply with the regulations to avoid penalties.