The recent Misery at Sea report published by Greenpeace focuses closely on Taiwan’s distant water fleet, and paints a grim portrait of the country’s shortcomings in this field. The Taiwanese Fisheries Agency (FA) has responded to the Greenpeace allegations, stating that since the Act for Distant Water Fisheries came into law on January 20th, 2017, the management of Taiwanese distant water fishing fleets under this legal framework has received wide and positive recognition.
The Agency points out that two of the cases sited in the Misery at Sea report have since been through the judicial process, while another comes under another national administration, while commenting that the report is geared up to ‘ create confrontation between the crew members and the whole fishing industry.’
‘The report also ignored the progress and efforts the FA has made during the past two years on developing and implementing relevant regulations. The FA hopes that the Greenpeace could provide constructive suggestions on enhancing the fisheries sector instead of a smear campaign, so as to truly contribute to the resource conservation and human rights protection,’ an agency spokesman said.
‘Enhancing the rights and benefits of the crew members employed overseas has been a primary concern for the Agency. The FA is also committed to a continued review process for legal framework and their implementation to firmly enhance the rights and benefits for foreign crew members.’
According to the Fisheries Agency, the human trafficking case cited in the Greenpeace report referring to case of Giant Ocean International Fishery Co, took place in Cambodia seven years ago.
‘The Taiwanese authorities had been requesting criminal evidence and court decisions of this case from Cambodia through judicial processes at the time, but no such information were received. In 2016, the prosecutor’s office of the relevant district closed the case due to the lack of any criminal evidence,‘ FA states.
‘The FA could not identify the involved personnel as guilty simply based on allegations. It is also important to note that Giant Ocean International Fishery Co. Ltd (Pty) is not on the list of the agencies authorised to employ foreign crew members overseas.’
The FA states that the case of fishing vessel Fu Tzu Chun dates back to August 2014, when the agency had already imposed penalties on both the skipper and owner for their failure provide necessary medical treatment for the sick crewman in question.
‘In addition to the fine, the skipper’s license was also suspended, and the agent’s qualification was also withdrawn. As for whether the deceased crew member had been suffered from abuse before death, the case is still active and is under investigation of the national judiciary authority.’
The case of Tunago No. 61 is a homicide committed on a Vanuatu-flagged fishing vessel. The skipper was from China and the crew who allegedly committed the crime were from Indonesia. Taiwan is not the flag state of the vessel, and neither the victim nor the perpetrator are Taiwanese nationals,’ the agency states.
Strengthened fisheries enforcement recognised by the EU
According to the Fisheries Agency, after two years of intensive consultation with the EU on strengthening of distant water fisheries management, progress has been made to meet the current objectives and EU’s requirements.
‘Madeleine Majorenko, the Head of Office for the European Economic and Trade Office, had openly acknowledged the efforts Taiwan has made on the improvement of various measures,’ the FA spokesman said.
‘The FA will continue to co-operate with the EU in combatting IUU fishing activities.’
