Our country strives to implement shark conservation and management measures to ensure the sustainable use of resources
Post Update by edit on 2021-12-09 16:46:31
A report entitled "Endangered Sharks for Sale - Taiwan's Dirty Secret" by Shark Guardian, a British non-governmental organization (NGO), on November 29th, 2021, alleged that the mismanagement of the industry in Taiwan has led to the endangerment of shark-like marine fishery resources. The Fisheries Agency stated that the country has long been committed to the conservation and management of various marine fishery resources such as sharks, especially since 2012, gradually promoting the policy of "fins-attached approach for sharks", actively enforcing the law and implementing fish landing inspections. To date, 6,414 shark landing inspections have been conducted, 62 cases of non-compliance have been detected, and administrative fines amounting to NT$94.06 million have been levied, effectively deterring illegal activities.
The Fisheries Agency formulated the "Discretionary Standards for Cases of Shark Catch Disposal in Violation of the Act for Distant Water Fisheries" in October this year to deter fishing vessels from disposing of shark catches by shark finning. The Fisheries Agency has amended the penalty to be based on the weight of the shark catches that have been finned and discarded, to strengthen the fight against illegal fishing practices of shark catches. The Agency has pointed out that recently, a fishing vessel of Taiwanese nationality was found to have engaged in shark finning and significant violations like evading inspection. A fine of NT$5 million and the suspension of its fishing license for 16 months are examples of Taiwan's efforts to combat illegal fishing activities.
The Fisheries Agency further explained that the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO), has revised the shark conservation and management measures in 2019 to allow its members to preserve their shark catches and that the shark fins shall not be cut off and must remain naturally attached to the carcasses. Each shark carcass shall be tagged and its corresponding fins labeled and tails bagged. In November 2020, our country amended Article 58 of the "Regulations for Tuna Longline or Purse Seine Fishing Vessels Proceeding to the Pacific Ocean for Fishing Operation", which requires that shark catches from our fishing vessels should be bagged whole or the fins labeled and placed in the same hold immediately after the shark is caught and processed. To facilitate shark landing inspection or high seas boarding and inspection to check whether the number of shark carcasses and fins match and compare whether they are the same species, our country's practice is in line with international norms such as WCPFC.
According to the Fisheries Agency, the aforementioned NGO report alleges that our country's operators are selling protected sharks listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). However, according to the relevant regulations of CITES, the species listed in Appendix II are allowed to be traded internationally only with the permission of the competent authorities, and there are no restrictions on the fishing and domestic commercial sale of these species. As long as the shark species are legally caught following the regulations of the regional fisheries management organizations, the sale of these species in Taiwan is a normal commercial activity. The Agency explained that in May 2020, Taiwan issued a revised its "Application and Issuance of Certificate of Origin of Ocean Catch Species for Trade Management", under which a national intending to export CITES Appendix II species or their products must first obtain this Certificate of Origin issued by the Fisheries Agency and then apply to the competent trade authority for an export permit. Our current regulations and practices are in line with the requirements of CITES and are consistent with the practices of other countries.
The Fisheries Agency emphasized that to fulfill its responsibility as a market country and prevent the shark fins from IUU fishing practices from entering our market, it announced on May 2, 2012 the "Regulations for the Import of Shark Fins" to prohibit the importation of illegal catches. It requires that the shark fins imported into our country must be caught by fishing vessels listed on the authorized fishing vessels of RFMOs. The Fisheries Agency further amended the Important Notes on November 10, 2012, adding new conditions for fishing vessels catching shark fins, and that shark fins entering the domestic market should be accompanied by the permit documents issued by the flag state, to strengthen the source management mechanism.
Finally, the Fisheries Agency emphasized that to correct the direction of the development of our marine fisheries industry, in addition to incorporating the international organizations' resource conservation and management regulations into domestic laws, the Agency will also strengthen diversified promotion and cooperation with the Coast Guard Administration and local governments to carry out enforcement checks such as port inspections to ensure that illegal fishing practices are strictly punished. To ensure that the operations of our distant water fishing vessels are in line with international management trends, and to build a national image of responsible and disciplined marine fisheries.
Contact person: LIN, KUO-PING, Deputy Director-General
Mobile phone: 0988-678051
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