TAIWAN ESTABLISHES TASK FORCE TO COMBAT ILLEGAL FISHING

For the purpose of addressing the international fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Taiwan has established a cabinet-level ‘Combating IUU Task Force’, which will complement global efforts to prevent IUU fishing and prohibit IUU fish or fisheries products from entering into market.

Minister without Portfolio Jing-sen Chang has been appointed as the chairperson of the task force, whose members include deputy ministers of the Council of Agriculture (COA), foreign affairs, transportation and communications, finance, justice, economic affairs, and health and welfare, as well as the deputy director-general of the Coast Guard Administration.

The task force will be in charge of integrating and coordinating IUU prevention strategies, consulting and deliberating critical issues, as well as implementing relevant measures with the international community. Additionally, a subordinate Cross-Ministerial Working Group will be set up to assist the task force in adjusting relevant domestic regulations and coordinating relevant issues.

The COA believes that through responsible fisheries, a string of sophisticated management measures against IUU fishing can be established. This will help in the global efforts to maintain sustainability of marine resources.