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Philippines detains three Pingtung fishing boats
CATCH OF THE DAY:
The skipper of one of the vessels says they were all operating legally near Taiwan's southern neighbor and that they expect to sail home today
CNA, TAIPEI
Tuesday, Apr 23, 2002, Page 4
Three tuna fishing boats from the southernmost county of Pingtung were confirmed yesterday to have been detained by coastal authorities off the Philippines for reasons yet to be determined.
Owners of the three Pingtung fishing boats are currently negotiating via "certain" communication channels with the Philippine authorities for the release of the three vessels and their crews, sources from the Fishery Association of Pingtung said.
According to the association, the skipper, surnamed Tung, of the Hsin Fu Hsing, one of the three detained boats, telephoned the association yesterday morning, informing it that the three boats were operating with all the necessary documents in a zone overlapping the economic zones of Taiwan and the Philippines under a cooperative contract that Taiwan fishing boats had forged with the private Philippine fishing sector.
Under the contract, Taiwan's fishing boats are also allowed to anchor at several Philippine fishing ports for rest and supplies, association officials said.
Skipper Tung said that his vessel and the other two boats, whose names remained unknown as of press time, are expected to leave a port in northern Luzon today or tomorrow for home as negotiations seem to be proceeding well, association officials said.
It is now the peak season for black tuna, whose firm, meaty flesh makes a high-priced delicacy, especially in Japan.
During the season, about 400 Taiwanese fishing boats, mostly from Pingtung, operate in a fishing ground containing tuna fish, which overlaps Taiwan's economic zone and that of the Philippines near the Bashi Channel and the Philippine Sea, mainly to catch black tuna fish.
As of last year, the Philippine fishing authority has begun to pay extra attention to Pingtung fishing boats after Pingtung boats made a fortune on fish sales.
Jealousy on the part of the Philippines might be the reason behind the detention of the Pingtung fishing boats over the weekend, fishing sources from Kaohsiung said.
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