The Keelung City Council yesterday passed the first reading of a draft bill overseeing recreational fishing on Keelung’s islands and reefs, which would see anglers who want to fish from reefs requiring licenses and smaller fish returned to the sea, the Keelung City Government said yesterday.
The city would begin to draw up regulations overseeing fishing licenses if the recreational fishing bill passes its third reading, it said.
The draft bill includes all 18 islands and reefs around Keelung, with the exception of Pengjia Islet (彭佳嶼), which is under the jurisdiction of the National Property Administration, the city government said.
The draft regulations state that if anglers fish from reefs without a license they face a maximum fine of NT$100,000. If there is any damage to the reef, for example by littering, of if anglers fail to wear the correct gear such as spiked boots and safety vests, they would be fined between NT$2,500 and NT$25,000.
If an angler violates the regulations five times, their license would be revoked and they would be unable to apply for a new one for a year, the city government said.
The draft regulations state that any fish under 20cm long must be released, with anglers who violate the clause liable to confiscation of all fish in their possession, a fine of between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000, and the revocation of their fishing license, the city government said.
However, fish in the pomacentridae family — which includes clownfish and damselfish, and kyphosidae, or sea chubs, are not included in the restrictions, the city government said.
The draft regulations state that there must not be fewer than two anglers fishing on any given reef at any time, but that the number cannot exceed 191, the city government said, adding that for businesses operating boats for recreational fishing, each boat must carry more than three individuals, including the captain, and safety equipment and radio systems must be installed.
Violators of that regulation would be fined from NT$20,000 to NT$100,000 and the boat’s “allotment” of reefs would be revoked for a year, the city government said, adding that the captain would have their license revoked and would have to wait for two years before applying for a new one.
Taiwanese Fishing Ecology Conservation Association director-general Kuo Huang-tsun (郭煌村) said members of the association found the regulations tolerable.
The association applauded the city government for taking the first step toward conserving ecology, while fishing enthusiast Lai Hsien-yi (賴賢義) said that those who truly love the sport always release fish under 20cm so that stocks can be replenished.
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