Taiwan Ensures the Implementation of Sharks Conservation and Management Measures for Sustainable Utilization
- Update
- 2021-12-03
- hit
- 7784
Shark Guardian, a U.K. based non-governmental organization (NGO), published on 29 November 2021 a report named < Endangered Sharks for Sale-Taiwan's Dirty Secret >, claiming that mismanagement of Taiwan undermines the stocks of sharks. The Fisheries Agency of Taiwan responded that Taiwan has long implemented numerous conservation and management measures on marine living resources, including sharks. In particular, the “fins naturally attached (FNA)” policy was introduced in a stepwise manner since 2012. To ensure the implementation of management measures, the Agency has conducted landing inspections on sharks for 6,414 times. With such active enforcement, 62 cases of irregularities have been found, and the Agency has accordingly imposed an accumulated fine of 94.06 million NTD, approximately 3.39 million USD. The aim of deterrence is indeed reached.
To further deter the occurrence of shark finning, the Agency promulgated in October this year the < Criteria for the Punishment of Cases in Violation of Requirements for Processing Sharks Catch >, pursuant to which the basis to impose the fine is changed to the weight of shark carcasses that have been finned. Heavier fine will consequently be imposed to intensify the efforts of deterring shark finning. Recently, the Fisheries Agency has inflicted a fine of 5 million NTD, approximately 180 thousand USD on one Taiwanese vessel for evading the inspection and being detected of finning after the inspection. Moreover, the fishing license of the vessel at issue is also suspended for 16 months. Such an action by the Agency clearly demonstrates the determination of Taiwan to combat illegal fishing activities.
According to the Fisheries Agency, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) that governs highly migratory stocks in the western and central Pacific, amended its sharks conservation and management measures in 2019, requiring that sharks catch should be landed with FNA, fins tied to the carcasses, fins and carcasses being tagged, or the whole shark being stored in the same bag. As such, the Agency revised in 2020 the < Regulations for Tuna Longline or Purse Seine Fishing Vessels Proceeding to the Pacific Ocean for Fishing Operation >, whereby Article 58 was amended to require Taiwanese fishing vessels to process shark catch by storing the whole shark into a bag, or tagging and putting fins into a bag and storing them together with the corresponding carcass in the same hold. Such measures will allow inspectors, during landing or high sea boarding and inspection to check whether the number of carcasses corresponds to that of fins as well as whether the fins come from the same species. The revised regulations are consistent with the measures adopted by WCPFC.
In response to the claim by Shark Guardian that Taiwanese industry trades the sharks species listed in the Appendix II of CITES, the Agency indicated that, pursuant to CITES, species listed in the Appendix II is allowed to be traded internationally with the permit from the competent authority. Harvesting or trading domestically such species is not being prohibited. Besides, so long as those sharks are legally caught in compliance with applicable measures of RFMOs, domestic trade is also a common business practice. The Agency revised the < Directions for Applying for and Issuing Certificate of Origin for Marine Catch under Trade Management > in May 2020 to require any Taiwanese nationals to obtain in advance the Certificate of Origin issued by the Agency, should the national intend to export the species listed in CITES Appendix II or the products thereof. After obtaining the Certificate of Origin, the concerned national can then apply for the Permit of Export from the competent authority for trade. This current practice conforms to the requirements of CITES, and is in line with those of other countries as well.
To fulfill the responsibilities of a market State as well as to prevent shark fins stemming from illegal fishing activities from being imported into Taiwan, the Agency promulgated the < Regulations on the Importation of Shark Fins > in 2012. In accordance with the Regulations, shark fins to be imported into Taiwan shall come from fishing vessels listed on the authorized vessels lists of RFMOs. As a result, it is prohibited to import fins from Singapore and Hong Kong. To further enhance market measures for shark fins, the Agency revised the abovementioned Regulations by stipulating more prerequisites for the fishing vessels where the fins are sourced and requiring permit issued by the flag States to be enclosed for the fins imported. The draft revised Regulations was publicized in November this year for public consultation in accordance with domestic legislative procedures.
The Agency emphasized that, to guide the development of Taiwan ocean fisheries, it has transposed conservation and management measures of RFMOs into domestic legislation, as well as conducted education and outreach programs via various means. In collaboration with the Coast Guard Administration and local governments, the Agency conducts inspections at ports to ensure law enforcement. With respect to any illegal fishing activities, the Agency grants no quarter not only to ensure the compliance with management measures of RFMOs, but also to build and maintain the reputation of Taiwan as a responsible fishing nation.
Contact Person: Deputy Director-General Mr. Kuo-Ping Lin
E-mail: kuoping@ms1.fa.gov.tw