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Pingtung County asks COA to keep coral boats away

The Pingtung County Government is strongly opposed to the Council of Agriculture’s (COA) recent decision to grant licenses to 96 coral-mining boats, a county official said on Thursday, adding that the county had sent a written request the same day to the Fisheries Agency asking it not to allow the boats to be based at the southern county’s ports.

The COA decision, made in April and effective as of last month, would wreak havoc on marine resources, said Hsu Wen-chi (�?�), the county’s fisheries section chief.

In 1995, the county government banned harvesting coral within 12 nautical miles (22.2km) of the county’s coast, Hsu said.

The decision to license more boats to harvest coral will undermine the progress made as a result of the county’s efforts to protect coral reefs, he said.

The county government will continue to promote sustainable use of marine resources, Hsu said, which will also protect the livelihood of fishermen.

He said that issuing licenses to boats weighing less than 20 tonnes fell within the county government’s jurisdiction and that it would not issue any licenses.

The Fisheries Agency has the right to issue licenses for boats over 20 tonnes, he said.

The county government urged the Fisheries Agency not to allow coral miners to operate from Pingtung County ports, Hsu said.

The Fisheries Agency permits will let boats operate in areas chosen by the COA, he said.

The new regulations came into effect on May 24 and allow boats to harvest coral in five areas totalling 7,811km². Each boat may harvest 120kg per year.

The five areas are located off the northeastern, southern and southwestern coasts.

The county government will take measures against any boat caught harvesting coral within 12 nautical miles of the coast in accordance with the law, Hsu said.

Violators could face up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of NT$150,000, Hsu said.

County officials informed COA Deputy Minister Hu Sing-hwa (胡興華) of the local government’s stance during his visit to Pingtung on Wednesday.

Hu said the COA would discuss the issue at a public hearing.
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