Minister Chen cared for distant water fisheries and committed to keep improving foreign crew’s rights and benefits

　　On 12th December, accompanied by Mr. HWUANG, Den-Fu, Acting Director of Marine Bureau, Kaohsiung City, the Minister of Council of Agriculture (hereinafter the Council) Dr. CHEN, Chi-Chung and the Director-General of Fisheries Agency (hereinafter the FA) Dr. CHANG, Chih-Sheng visited Cianjhen Fishing Port and met with representatives from Kaohsiung District Fishermen’s Association, Taiwan Tuna Association, Taiwan Squid Fishery Association, and Taiwan Tuna Purse Seiners Association. They visited a fisheries company to know what is new with the industry. To understand the progress in improving foreign crew’s rights and benefits, Minister CHEN and Director-General CHANG boarded a fishing vessel fishing for Pacific saury and checked its accommodation space and the equipment aboard. In the meantime, they said a revision to vessel tonnage replacement scheme would be promulgated on the 14th, which would improve the crew’s onboard living and accommodation space. Minister CHEN emphasized that foreign crew is important partners while fishing vessels are operating on the sea, and they are also an important part of sustainable fisheries; therefore, the fisheries of Taiwan should create a more friendly and amicable working environment by continuing the work on improving foreign crew’s rights and benefits.

Caring about the industry and listening to the advice from it

　　FA stated that vessels fishing for Pacific saury took up the majority of those that had returned to Taiwan. There were 87 vessels fishing in the North Pacific Ocean this year, with the catch more than 50 thousand metric tons of Pacific saury. With the vessels gradually returning to the port, 72 vessels of them have returned to Cianjhen Fishing Port and Xiaogang Linhai Fishing Port. Minister CHEN and Director-General CHANG made an inspection visit on the landing of fishing vessels and listened to suggestions from the industry. As a result, Minister CHEN instructed FA to continue to assist the industry for its sustainable development.

Valuing foreign crew’s rights and benefits, securing the foundation of the industry

　　FA further stated that Minister CHEN and Director-General CHANG, with the company of Kaohsiung District Fishermen’s Association and several from the said fisheries associations, visited a distant water fisheries company. They were briefed on how the company utilizes the latest technology to monitor its operations and the living condition of the crew onboard in real-time and on how the company earnestly applied for an MSC-recognized cooperate social responsibility (CSR) program which promoted securing the crew’s rights. Minister CHEN stated that the Council welcomes enterprise to acquire third party certification in order to improve the conservation of fisheries resources and advance the crew’s welfare. To understand the life condition on a fishing vessel, Minister CHEN and Director-General CHANG physically boarded one; by visiting the crew’s accommodation space, nautical instrument, VMS and E-logbook system and checking facilities to improve the condition onboard, such as seawater desalination, and sewage processor, they were able to have a better understanding on the progress made to improve the welfare and benefits of foreign crew members, including the promotion of living space and facility onboard .

　　Furthermore, FA stated that since the establishment of the Regulations on the Authorization and Management of Overseas Employment of Foreign Crew Members in accordance with the Act for Distant Water Fisheries in 2017, it strives to improve the foreign crew’s rights and treatments, including regulating the working hours with a reference to the International Labor Organization(ILO) Work in Fishing Convention (C-188), formulating standard form contract and ensuring minimum wages, videoing the process while signing the contract, setting minimum requirements for crew insurance, implementing management evaluations on recruitment agents, amending notification procedures involving human trafficking, strengthening inspections and crew interviews at domestic and foreign ports, and punishing the fishing vessel operators that violate regulations in accordance with law and regulations.

　　Lastly, FA stated that to improve foreign crew’s rights and benefits, it will continue to enhance the benefits and protection of foreign crew employed overseas by amendment of the relevant law and regulations, and to improve foreign crew’s rest area and accommodation space. The Council has promulgated the amendment to the Regulations for the Issuance of Building Permit and Fishing License of Fishing Vessel on the 14th December where increase of upper deck used as accommodation space in a fishing vessel will be exempted from replacement tonnage. Such a revision is expected to not only reduce the burden of fishers but also guide and assist fishers in building new vessels that meet the requirements as set forth in the C-188 Convention and will in turn, offer the crew an amicable working environment.

　　　　Contact Point: Deputy Director-General Mr. Kuo-Ping Lin
　　　　E-mail: kuoping@ms1.fa.gov.tw　

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