Taiwan and Canada have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the use of a Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) system to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the two governments said today.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, the pact was signed in Taipei by outgoing Canadian representative Jim Nickel and Representative to Canada Harry Tseng (曾厚仁).
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The agencies did not specify the signing date.
The ministry said the agreement would facilitate bilateral cooperation against IUU fishing and promote prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
The office added in a Facebook post that it would give Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration access to Canada's DVD system.
The DVD system, valued at C$7 million (US$5.09 million), uses satellite imagery and analytics to identify and track vessels operating illegally by concealing their location or intentions, according to a Canadian government press release from Feb. 24, 2021.
The program aims to provide advanced satellite data and analysis to small island nations and coastal states affected by IUU fishing, which can undermine local economies, food security and fish stocks.
Canada signed a similar agreement with the Philippines in 2023 to give it access to the DVD system.
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