Taipei, June 26, 2007 (CNA) Sales of whale sharks, the largest living fish species, fillets of the same will be banned in Taiwan starting Wednesday, an executive of the fishermen's association of Suao township in Yilan county, northeastern Taiwan, said Tuesday.
The Council of Agriculture (COA) , the highest fishery authority of the country, stipulated a catch quota of 30 whale sharks for thisyear. When that quota was reached in March, the COA declared March 27 that no further fishing would be allowed to target the giant fish --locally called "Tofu shark" for its tender and white meat. The COA also demanded that the catches be sold out within three months.
The sale deadline is due on June 27, Lin Yueh-ying said. Whale shark is not listed as an endangered species in Taiwan, but is listed in the Convention on nternational Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) signed in 1973 in Washington to slowdown species extinction.
Out of respect for the international convention, Taiwan has set catch quotas to control the take of whale sharks. In 2006, the quota was set at 60, and that was cut into half this year, Lin said, noting a full ban on targeting the filter feeding shark will be imposed for
next year.
Under the ban, fishermen are obliged to return whale shark bi-catch to the ocean, whether it is dead or alive. Violators face up to a maximum three years' imprisonment or fine of up to NT$150,000 (US$4,575), according to the COA.
