For reminding the world to pay more attention on ocean issues, in 2008 the United Nations declared every 8 June as the World Ocean Day (WOD), beginning from 2009. On 7 June 2013, the eve of the WOD, the “2013 Taiwan Ocean Forum” was hosted by Chang Yung-Fa Foundation, in the conference hall of the Foundation, with participation of the representatives from the Coast Guar Administration, Ministry of Education, Forestry Bureau, Fisheries Agency, and Education Department of Taipei City Government. Officials from the respective government agencies gave presentations on topics relating to the ocean, including protection of maritime jurisdiction, marine conservation, management of fisheries resources, and ocean education, calling upon the general public to pay attention.

In the opening speech made by Ms Teh-Mei Chung, Chief Executive Director of Chang Yung-Fa Foundation, she expressed that the ocean is source of life, a place for the exchange of cultures, and opportunity for development, and through the hosting of the ocean forum, where ocean related issues were presented, it was hoped that all participants and audience could become a seed troop to safeguard the ocean.

Recent issues, such as the sovereignty disputes on Diaoyutai Islands, and the fisheries disputes between Taiwan and the Philippines, have gradually called upon the awareness of the general public on ocean issues. The “2013 Taiwan Ocean Forum” was opened by the representative of Coast Guard Administration, with a presentation on the Diaoyutai incident, entitling “Protecting the sovereignty of Diaoyutai and enhancing the capacity of fisheries protection”. He briefly touched upon the campaign “For survival, protect fishing right” initiated by Taiwan’s fishermen, following Japan’s assertion of nationalization of Diaoyutai, and the “0924 fishing right protection enforcement action” taken by the Coast Guard Administration, to protect the right of fishermen, describing the practical work done in this regard. At the same time, video on the drilling of Cutter “Xinbei” which joined the coast guard cutter fleet on 30 March 2013 was played, demonstrating the professionalism of coast guard training, ship maneuvering, and air-sea coordination, enhancing the capacity of the entire maritime surveillance, offering immense assistance in the work of protecting the country’s maritime sovereignty, fisheries resources and fishermen’s safety.

The representative of the Forestry Bureau gave a presentation from the viewpoint of an agency involving in the conservation of wildlife, on the work on the existing status of conservation and rescue of marine protected species, such as sea turtles, whales and dolphins, and providing the audience with information on the amendment of article 24 of the Wildlife Conservation Act, stipulating that for the import and export of marine mammals, including live animals and their products, hunting of such animals is restricted to indigenous people of countries for the purpose of their survival. He reminded the audience to take high regard of the conservation of marine species.

The representative of the Fisheries Agency gave a presentation entitling “Conservation and Management of Fisheries Resources in Taiwan”, describing measures taken in Taiwan’s far seas fishery and coastal and offshore fisheries for the conservation of fisheries resources, such as monitoring, control and surveillance, briefly introducing the enhanced enforcement work on Taiwan’s specific coastal and offshore fisheries, such as, larval fishery, flying fish egg fishery, precious coral fishery, etc. He also touched upon the management measures taken in conserving shark resources, including prohibition of catching of whale sharks, the policy of shark’s fin naturally attached to body, control of shark’s fin imports, restrictions on the catch of great white shark, basking shark, and megamouth shark. The audience was provided with an overview of Taiwan’s establishment and management of marine protected areas (MPA), and different categories of MPA in terms of the level of protection and the signboards used, as well as the importance of marine conservation and sustainable utilization of fisheries resources, stressing the importance in the balance of industry development and ecological conservation, to enable sustainable use by the future generations.

The representative of the Ministry of Education gave an overview of the policy and work on ocean education, in accordance with the ocean policy white paper, and introducing the policy goal which included intensification on ocean education, improvement of the basic knowledge and accomplishments in schools on ocean education, creation of talented person on ocean education, fostering excellent marine expert required by the industry, emphasizing the work in marine affairs and policy would be focused on improving the quality of personnel in the work of marine affairs, encouraging students to engage in the work relating to the ocean, with the vision of “get closer to the sea, knowing the sea and love the sea”.

Taiwan is surrounded by the sea with rich fisheries resources, while people’s understanding of the sea seems to be disproportionally low. It is envisaged convening of the 2013 Taiwan Ocean Forum will gather together the strength from all sectors, providing knowledge of the sea to the audience in respect to various ocean issues, and exchanging opinions, hoping that educational concept will serve as the starting point in delivering the horizon of ocean from grass-root level, to demonstrate the spirit of an “Ocean State”.