New Image for Taiwanˇ¦s Far Seas Tuna Longline Fishery With more than 1,000 tuna longline fishing vessels in the major oceans of the world, Taiwan's tuna longline fishery has been well developed. Among the fleet, there are 614 large-scale tuna longline vessels, which account for 42% of the 1,454 large-scale tuna longline vessels in the world. With a peak catch level of over 200,000 tons, Taiwan has become one of the world's largest tuna longline fishing nations in the world. In 2005, Taiwan reached cooperation in tuna fishing with 26 coastal nations. Some 73 foreign ports around the world have been developed to serve as base ports for transshipment and landing of catch, replenishment of supplies and maintenance of vessels. Growth in the global economy, together with the growing demand for high quality protein has motivated the continued increase in tuna catch. Tuna is a fish species of high value. Three major species, namely bigeye, albacore and yellowfin, are targeted by coastal and far seas fisheries worldwide. Recent expansion of far seas tuna fisheries in the world has risked some tuna stocks to a depleting stage. In some oceans the resources of albacore and yellowfin tuna are now at the stage of full-exploitation or nearing full exploitation. Notably the global resource of bigeye tuna has a sign of over fishing. This has caused concerns among international fisheries management organizations and ecologists, urging states and regional fisheries management organizations to manage bigeye stock, and to restrain the harvest of the stock by means of limitation of catch levels or fishing efforts. In light of the risk of depletion of the bigeye stock, there was a common understanding among states the importance of reinforcing the conservation of tuna stocks on the high seas. This was reflected in the adoption in August 1995,of the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of December 10 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, which requires states to cooperate through regional bodies to manage and conserve highly migratory fish stocks to ensure their sustainable utilization. In addition, in 1999 the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations adopted the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity, calling on states to limit their fishing capacity, reducing their large-scale long-line fleets by 20%. The 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development further called for greater efforts to enable marine resources, including tuna, to restore their levels of maximum sustainable yield by 2015. To promote conservation of tuna resources and to ensure the sustainable development of tuna fisheries, regional tuna management organizations have been established worldwide. They include the ICCAT in the Atlantic, the IATTC in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the WCPFC in the central and western Pacific, the IOTC in the Indian Ocean, and CCSBT, for the conservation of southern bluefin tuna whose migration ranges across three oceans. For purposes of conservation and sustainable utilization of tuna resources, appropriate measures on catch limits have been adopted by these regional organizations requiring states fishing for the stocks to comply. As one of major players in far seas tuna longline fishery, Taiwan is fully aware of ,and recognizes its responsibilities and obligations in the conservation tuna resources, and has exerted its greatest efforts in the work of international fishery conservation and management. In addition to the establishment of domestic management regulations and mechanisms, in line with the resolutions adopted by the regional fisheries management organizations in 2005, Taiwan was also implemented a fleet size reduction program, which includes a reduction of large-scale tuna longline vessels to mitigate the crises of the depletion of global tuna resources, while upgrading the structure of the industry in such a way that it will act according with the trend of international fisheries management. In the fleet size reduction program, Taiwan will cut its fleet by 160 large-scale tuna longline vessels between 2005 and 2006,reduction of more than 26% of its current fleet size. This reduction will help to resolve the problem of Taiwanˇ¦s insufficient fishing quotas for bigeye tuna and to ensure that all vessels fishing for bigeye tuna can be operated under a reasonable accessible quota for bigeye tuna, such that fishing operations can comply with international regulations, thereby reaching the goal of sustainable utilization of tuna resources. In order to ensure transparency of fleet reduction, in February 2005 the government of Taiwan announced an operational procedure on fleet reduction. In 2005, 59 large-scale tuna longline vessels would be reduced, among which 15 vessels were from the Pacific, 24 vessels from the Indian Ocean and 20 vessels from the Atlantic. These vessels were required to stop fishing on 30th June 2005, and returned to their homeports in accordance with the required timeframe. On their return to their homeport, pending their scrapping they were required to berth at designated docks and their identity was checked and confirmed by the Taiwan Tuna Association and other relevant agencies. Scrapping of the vessels was made under the supervision of personnel from the Taiwan Tuna Association and other relevant agencies, in accordance with the required scrapping procedure The first phase of the fleet reduction program was completed in the first half of 2006. The second phase of the program is planned to reduce 101 vessels, predominantly focusing on those vessels fishing in the Indian and the Pacific Oceans. In the second phase of the program, to minimize pollution, hydraulic cutting has been used to break the vessels instead of using torch cutting. In view of the pressing time schedule for vessel reduction, it was decided that part of 101 vessels be sunk for use as artificial reef. In addition, all engines and freezers of these vessels will be destroyed to ensure they will not be reused in fishery. The scrapping process is to be jointly monitored by the government and Taiwan Tuna Association, and in addition, China Corporation Register of Shipping has been requested to carry out survey on the process and issue scrapping certificates. The second phase is to be carried out in 2006. Vessels to be scrapped are expected to focus on vessels fishing in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. It is planned that the entire scrapping program of 160 large-scale tuna longline vessels will be completed at thee end of 2006. As a matter of fact, as early as 1991, Taiwan conducted fishing fleet reduction programs in response to the call for international conservation and management of tuna resources. Over the last 14 years, between 1991 and 2005, Taiwan adopted the policy of limited fishing entry and implemented a number of vessel buyback programs, whereby a total of 2,751 vessels of various sizes were bought back by the government, resulting in reduction of 138,698 gross tonnages in capacity Among which 136 vessels were large-scale tuna longline vessels. In addition, to reduce the number of vessels owned by Taiwan nationals under flags of convenience, in 2000 under a joint action plan with Japan, Taiwan committed to facilitate those vessels built in Taiwan to be registered in Taiwan by amending its regulations. 48 large-scale tuna longline vessels completed their registration in Taiwan. At the same time, Taiwan has reduced its 48 tuna longline vessels in its own registry, and from the viewpoint of global vessel reduction, such a process could be interpreted as a worldwide reduction of tuna longline vessels by 48 vessels. In view of the poor status of the stock of bigeye tuna, and to enable rational operations of the tuna fishing industry the plan on reduction of fishing fleet for rational fishing operation has been prioritized. Under a two-year plan, Taiwan aims to scrap 160 large-scale tuna longline vessels that target for bigeye tuna. The biggest difference between the past and the current reduction in fishing fleet is that the vessels subject to scrapping are the large-scale tuna longline vessels and they are currently in operation. According to the Fisheries Act, the Taiwan government has offered compensation to ship owners, which can be considered as preferential. The total compensation amounts to NT$70,000 per vessel tonnage, of which the government provides NT$30,000 per vessel ton and the industry provides the remaining NT$40,000 per vessel tonnage. The two-year plan will cost a total of NT$6.3 billion, which is equivalent to US$191 million. The dedicated efforts put into this plan by government have won the support of those ship owners who decided to leave the fishery as well those who wished to remain in the fishery. The fleet reduction of Taiwan's large-scale tuna longline fishery is ongoing and expected to be completed by the end of 2006, by which time the target of scrapping 160 vessels will be achieved, demonstrating a firm step forward in fulfilling taiwanˇ¦s international conservation obligations. To ensure Taiwan's tuna longline fleet size is commensurate with the catch quotas allocated by the relevant regional fisheries management organizations, in addition to reduction of fishing efforts by downsizing its large-scale tuna longline fleet, the Taiwan government has taken measures to prevent operators from conducting such illegal activities as fish laundering, in order to rebuild the image of Taiwan tuna fishery. these actions include: First, grouping of fishing vessels by fishing areas and target species. Vessels of a specific species group are only permitted to fish in a specific fishing area and they are not allowed to fish in other areas without prior permission from the competent authority. Second, enhancement in the control of catch: Increase in the frequency of catch reporting, through vessel monitoring system (VMS) and weekly reporting to monitor the fishing activities and the utilization of fishing quotas allocated to individual vessels. When vessels exhaust their quota, they will be required to return to a designated port. In 2006 any vessel fishing for bigeye tuna in the Atlantic is required to have a compliance observer onboard, to ensure the vessel complies with the conservation and management measures adopted by ICCAT. Third, to strengthen the collection of catch information, the coverage of scientific observer and port sampling will be increased. Fourth, strict control of the issuing of catch statistical documents. Information such as individual quota allocation to each vessel, weekly catch reporting, VMS records, export records of catch and transshipment records to verify the quantity of the catch in the issuing of the catch statistical documents. Fifth, to take effective measures to combat IUU fishing activities, regulations for investigating flag-of-convenience fishing vessels owned by Taiwan nationals or IUU fishing activities conducted by Taiwan nationals will be drafted and severe punishment will be imposed on offenders accordingly. Regulations have been promulgated permitting the construction of foreign flag fishing vessels only to replace sunk or lost vessels as declared by the importing state to prevent the construction of flag-of-convenience vessels in Taiwan.Cooperation with those states where Taiwan nationals have operated vessels under their flag will be strengthened, and assistance will be provided to such counties in the capacity building in fisheries management. Sixth, the management of small and medium-scale tuna longline vessels of less than 24 meters in length will be strengthened. Seventh, heavier punishment for fisheries violations will be imposed. Any vessel carrying fish caught by another vessel without authorization or involving in IUU fishing activities, the license of the vessel will be revoked. The Taiwan government realizes that it must effectively manage its large fleet operating on the high seas, by means of strict control and verification of catch in order to comply with the conservation and management measures adopted by the international fishery organizations. The government of Taiwan is determined to prove to the international community its commitment as a responsible fishery state. Although the urgent industry adjustments in such a short period of time are overburdening both government and industry, Taiwan is willing to take these steps to conserve the tuna resources to achieve the objective of conservation of tuna resources and sustainable fisheries operation. Both the government and the fishing industry have recognized that this is the correct choice, and it is the direction Taiwan should persist in pursuing Sustainable utilization of the tuna resources is a goal sought by the international community. Taiwan looks forward to cooperating with all members of the international community to deter and eliminate IUU fishing activities. The Taiwan government and its tuna fishing industry will sustain their obligations and duties in conserving fisheries stocks in a responsible manner, thus rebuilding their image on far seas tuna longline fishery.