Greenpeace Taiwan yesterday erected a sculpture of a hand holding a yellow card in front of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) headquarters in Taipei, urging the two parties to address fisheries policy after Taiwan was given a yellow card warning over illegal fishing activities in September.
The European Commission in October identified Taiwan as an uncooperative nation in the fight against illegal fishing after a Taiwanese ship was found to have broken a shark-fin harvest law in waters near Papua New Guinea.
Taiwan’s aquatic products could be banned in EU markets if the nation is not able to resolve the issue in six months.
Photo: Chen Wei-han, Taipei Times
Greenpeace Taiwan said that policies tabled by the two parties did not address illegal fishing, distant fishing management or remedy measures in response to the yellow card warning, with the KMT’s platform leaning toward tourism and the DPP’s toward offshore energy and marine current power development.
The organization called on the parties to revise the Fisheries Act (漁業法) to clamp down on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, establish a traceability system for aquatic products and ensure information transparency.
The organization’s ocean campaigner Lisa Tsai (蔡佩芸) said: “We have not seen any specific policy design on fisheries resources management on a national scale despite the two parties’ and the Fisheries Agency’s repeated pledges to do so. That is why we are here today, to urge them to honor their pledge.”
DPP official Yang Chang-chen (楊長鎮) said that the party supports the reformation of the fishing industry and would move to synchronizing national regulations with international standards, as well as enacting soft laws.
KMT official Huang Po-chung (黃柏均) said that the KMT accepts the group’s demands and the party also proposed to set up an environmentally friendly fishing fleet at each of the nation’s fishing villages to protect fishery resources and human rights.
Fisheries Agency Deputy Director Huang Hung-yan (黃鴻燕) said the agency is revising the act in accordance with the EU standards by substantially raising the fine limit for illegal fishing, and it would submit the draft amendment to the Legislative Yuan for review in the next legislative session in February.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
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