It is fact that the use of driftnets resulted in disappearance of fish, coral reefs destruction. China is using driftnet fishing in that areas and thus depleted the fish stock. Media report says that before the end of the year, the government would declare an oceanic national park surrounding Pengchia Yu 56km north of Keelung, Mienhua Yu or Cotton Islet, and Huaping Yu or Vase Islet.
According to the report the islands lies at the meeting point of two key currents and so their waters attract lots of fish, but in turn this has made them a target of hordes of Chinese fishing trawlers operating together. The Coast Guard reported that the numbers of Chinese vessels illegally entering the area was growing rapidly, from 797 in 2008 to 1,048 last year to 626 during the first quarter of this year, a rise of 192 percent compared to the same period in 2009.
Experts say that turning the zone into a national park would benefit the long-term development of fishing while also attracting a new class of tourists, even though it would hit local fishermen in the short term. There should a complete ban on human activity with a range of three nautical miles from the islands. Fishermen in nearby Ilan County reportedly opposed the government plans for a national park because they did not believe they would still be allowed to fish near the area.
