Scomber australasicus, Scomber japonicus and Trachurus
japonicus which are mackerel
species found in the waters off the northeastern and southwesterrn parts of
Taiwan, are major target species in Taiwan’s mackerel fishery, using such gear
as danish seine and purse seine. The most common fishing grounds of this
fishery are waters north of 24 degrees N. Fish of Scomber australasicus caught in the fishery appears to be smaller in
size and lower in maturity age, reflecting the status of overfishing of the
stock. Therefore, enhancement of the management of mackerel fishery should be
carried out without any delay.
To ensure
sustainable utilization of mackerel resources, on 16 April 2013, the Council of
Agriculture amended and proclaimed the Regulation on the Management of Mackerel
Fishery, focusing on the following key points:
1. Any single
mackerel purse seiner, group mackerel purse seiner or danish seiner which has
been authorized to conduct mackerel fishery in waters north of 24 degrees N. (the
northeastern areas), are required to apply for a fishing permit.
2. Mackerel
fishing vessels are not permitted to fish within the waters 6 nautical miles
from the coast of Taiwan main island, and those over 100 GRT are not permitted
to fish within the waters 12 nautical miles from the coast of Taiwan main
island.
3. Mackerel
fishing vessels are not permitted to conduct fishing activities in the
northeastern areas between 1 June and 30 June every year.
4.Mackerel fishing
vessels proceeding to the northeastern areas to conduct mackerel fishery are
required to install transceivers of vessel monitoring system on board, for
reporting their positions every hour. They should observe the regulations for
group vessel fishing, properly fill in the catch logbook, and receive observers
despatched by the Fisheries Agency to carry out observation.
5. Mackerel
fishing vessels which have been granted with fishing permits, are limited to
land their catches at Nanfangao Fishing Port in Ilan
County; Aodi Fishing Port, Shenao Fishing Port, and Yeliu Fishing Port in New
Taipei City; Badouzi Fishing Port and Zhengbin Fishing Port in Keelung;Jiangjun Fishing Port and Anping
Fishing Port in Tainan; and Xingda Fishing Port, Qianzhen Fishing Port, XiaogangLinhaixincun
Fishing Port and Zhongyun Fishing Port in Kaohsiung.
6. The catches of
mackerel fishing vessels should be traded openly in the district fishermen’s
associations, either in the form of auction, price negotiation, bidding or
tendering.