Future Prospects
I. Conservation and Rational Utillzation of Fisheries Resources
A. Conservation of Fisheries Resources:Aiming at creating better living environments to marine lives, under the assistance and guidance of the Council of Agriculture, joint surveys have been conducted by the municipal fisheries agencies and county fisheries agencies and academic institutes, on the topograpy, structure of currents and ecological environment of the sea within the 200-metre isocline in the west. Besides, to protect the spawning, hatching and nursing grounds for fish in the coastal areas, thus increasing the income of sea areas, thus increasing the income of the coastal fishermen.
B. Balance on Proper Utilization of Fisheries Resources:
Stock assessments of coastal species should be properly carried out. Different fishing methods have been introduced into the country in order that sufficient utilization could be achieved for certain migratory species such as mackerel, scad, anchovy, skipjack, and tuna in the waters off the island, South China Sea and within the 200-metre isocline around the northern and southern tips of the island, to achieve a state of balance of demersal stocks from over-exploitation.
II. Establishment of Conservation Areas for Increasing Fisheries Resources
A. Establishment of Conservation Areas for Coastal Fisheries:Along the coast, 25 conservation areas for coastal stocks have been established by the local govemments of coastal prefectures and townships to increase the natural reproduction capability of coastal fish species.
B. Placing of Artifical Reefs to Improve Habitat Environment:
Establishment of 54 locations for artificial reefs and 12 locations coastal conservation areas have been designated. Surveys will be conducted to look for additional locations for placing of artificial reefs to improve the habitsats of fisheries resources.
C. Release of Artificially Hatched Fry:
Every year artificially hatched fry of high value spscies are released to the waters in the conservation areas to enhance natural stocks.
D. Pubicity on Protection of Fisheries Resources:
To enable fishermen and the general public to understand the importance of conservation of nfisheries resources, through various locations along the coast, information concerning conservation of fisheries resources is disseminated.
E. Preparation of Sea Ranching Centers:
The Council of Agriculture has appointed Taiwan Fisheries Consultants, Inc. to conduct surveys and have selected three sites in the coastal areas for setting up sea ranching centers at northern, southern and central parts of the island.
F. Strict Enforcement of Illegal Fishing:
To prevent fishermen from using illegal fishing methods such as use of electricity, explosives and poisons for fishing in coastal areas, under the supervision of Taiwan Provincial Government, a "Joint Enforcement Unit on illegal Fishing" has been established by coastal prefectures and townships, and fisheries surveillance purposes have been despatched to reinforce coastal surveillance in order to eliminate fishing by illegal methods.
Source: Fisheries Development in the Republic of China -- Past, Present, and Future, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, ROC, 1993.
