Vanuatu-flagged F/V Da Wang confirmed involved in forced labor by the U.S.; the Fisheries Agency to revoke its authorization to invest in by the operator
- Update
- 2022-02-10
- hit
- 1369
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated on January 28th that after investigation, it was confirmed that the Vanuatu-flagged fishing vessel Da Wang, invested in operation by Taiwan nationals, had involved in forced labor, and accordingly CBP would seize the imported harvest caught by F/V Da Wang. Regarding this, the Fisheries Agency of Taiwan indicated that it will, in accordance with the relevant regulations, revoke the authorizations for investment in operation of foreign-flagged fishing vessels granted to the concerned vessel operator, including that of F/V Da Wang.
The Agency explained that F/V Da Wang had been alleged to involve in forced labor by Greenpeace in 2019; considering the fishing vessel was operated by R.O.C. (Taiwan) nationals, an essential investigation was conducted by the Agency, with due respects to the jurisdiction of the flag State.
Following a Withhold Release Order (hereinafter referred to as WRO) issued to F/V Da Wang by CBP in July 2020, the Agency was convinced that it is necessary to strengthen the regulations on the conducts of R.O.C. (Taiwan) nationals investing in the operation of foreign-flagged fishing vessels, and the Agency therefore amended the Regulations on the Approval of Investment in or the Operation of Foreign Flag Fishing Vessels, taking into account that human rights are universal. With this amendment, the Agency will not authorize R.O.C. (Taiwan) nationals involving in forced labor or human trafficking to invest in or operate foreign-flagged fishing vessels and will revoke the authorizations that have already granted. Furthermore, the Regulations on the Management and Approval of Foreign Flag Fishing Vessels Entering into Ports of the Republic of China were also amended in June 2021. Foreign-flagged fishing vessels whose operators involve in forced labor or human trafficking would therefore be prohibited from entering R.O.C. (Taiwan) ports.
Moreover, the Agency stated that after F/V Da Wang was included in the WRO List, the said vessel had submitted a port call request when the Agency was drafting the amendments to the above regulations. In order to collect information about the allegation for investigation, the Agency accepted the request, and together with the Office of Prosecutors, they accessed crew members and collected relevant evidence for this case.
As it is confirmed by the U.S. government that F/V Da Wang involved in forced labor, the Agency announces that, in accordance with Article 6 of the Regulations on the Approval of Investment in or the Operation of Foreign Flag Fishing Vessels, it will revoke the authorization to invest in the operation of F/V Da Wang, along with other fishing vessels operated by the operator, and at the same time, those fishing vessels will not be allowed to use the ports of R.O.C.(Taiwan).
As far as the Fisheries Agency knows, since F/V Da Wang was listed in the WRO two years ago, the operator has been doing all the efforts and possible improvements in the hope that the vessel could be removed from the WRO list. In addition, the operator requested a social audit through a third party to provide evidence of improvement to assure the US authority.
The Agency reiterated that the Taiwan government will work with all other countries to support human rights, safeguard labor rights in fisheries, and fight forced labor or human trafficking, regardless of the nationality of the fishing vessel. In addition to amending relevant regulations which would specify working conditions and oblige fishing vessels entering R.O.C. (Taiwan) ports to accept joint inspection in the future, the Fisheries Agency will provide vessel operators with clear guidance on complying with the national and international regulations to improve the working conditions on foreign fishing vessels invested in operation by R.O.C. (Taiwan) nationals for the sake of strengthening the rights and benefits of foreign crew members.
Contact Person: Deputy Director-General Kuo-Ping Lin
Email: kuoping@ms1.fa.gov.tw