The Cabinet on Thursday approved a draft bill to increase the penalties on long-distance ships that engage in illegal fishing, in an effort to prevent possible trade sanctions by the EU.
In addition, the Cabinet approved draft amendments to the Ordinance to Govern Investment in the Operation of Foreign Flag Fishing Vessels (投資經營非我國籍漁船管理條例) and the Fisheries Act (漁業法), which were submitted by the Fisheries Agency of the Council of Agriculture.
The new bill and the amendments are to be sent to the legislature for ratification.
Council Minister Chen Tze-ching (陳志清) said his agency would step up communication with lawmakers and representatives in the fishing industry on the draft legislation.
Premier Simon Chang (張善政) said that he hoped the bill and the amendments would clear the legislative floor as soon as possible.
The draft seeks to impose stiffer penalties for illegal fishing by long-distance fleets, with the aim of preventing possible trade sanctions by the EU and bringing domestic laws in line with international law.
Under the draft legislation, long-distance fishing fleets would also be required to install a vessel monitoring system and a system to report each vessel’s catch.
The draft stipulates that fleets that engage in illegal fishing would be subject to a maximum fine of NT$30 million (US$922,509), which increases to NT$45 million for repeated violations.
The draft is a response to a “yellow card” issued by the European Commission in October last year, which warned that Taiwan risks being identified as an uncooperative nation in the fight against “illegal, unreported and unregulated” fishing.
The warning followed a report by Greenpeace that a Taiwanese fishing vessel, the Shuen De Ching No. 888, was seen illegally harvesting shark fins and throwing finned sharks back into waters near Papua New Guinea.
If the issue is not addressed by the end of March next year, Taiwan risks EU trade sanctions.
In drafting the bill, the Fisheries Agency referred to related fisheries laws in South Korea and the Philippines, two countries that also received yellow cards from the EU.
The English version of the draft was sent to the EU, which said it had no problem with the contents, Chen said.
Among Taiwan’s 20,000 fishing vessels, 1,300 to 1,600 are long-distance fishing boats, the council said.
If the EU imposes trade sanctions against Taiwan, it would cost the nation about NT$1 billion per year, and other nations might follow suit and impose sanctions that would be detrimental to Taiwan’s long-distance fisheries industry, which has an annual output of about NT$50 billion.
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
The Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau audited six hotels in an effort to prevent price gouging ahead of Korean band BTS’ concert tour in the city scheduled for Nov. 19, 21 and 22 this year. The bureau on Friday said that the audits — conducted in response to allegations of unfair pricing posted on social media — found no wrongdoing. These establishments included the local branches of Chateau de Chine, Hotel Nikko, My Humble House, and Grand Hai Lai, it said, adding that the Consumer Protection Commission would have penalized price gougers had the accusations been substantiated. The bureau said the Tourism Development Act
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
BACK TO WINTER: A strong continental cold air mass would move south on Tuesday next week, bringing colder temperatures to northern and central Taiwan A tropical depression east of the Philippines could soon be upgraded to be the first tropical storm of this year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the next cold air mass is forecast to arrive on Monday next week. CWA forecaster Cheng Jie-ren (鄭傑仁) said the first tropical depression of this year is over waters east of the Philippines, about 1,867km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), and could strengthen into Tropical Storm Nokaen by early today. The system is moving slowly from northwest to north, and is expected to remain east of the Philippines with little chance of affecting Taiwan,
RSS