Commercial fishing vessels. (Photo: Stock File)

EU to decide in a month whether to withdraw 'yellow card' from Taiwan

TAIWAN
Friday, March 23, 2018, 02:10 (GMT + 9)

In a month's time European Union officials will report on whether a "yellow card" warning issued to Taiwan should be lifted after considering if the country's efforts to curb illegal fishing have been enough.

The Council of Agriculture (COA) recalled that it has been two and a half years since the EU issued the warning to Taiwan for insufficient cooperation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The COA stressed that over the past two years it has fulfilled the EU's requirements on improving regulations, regulatory enforcement, and management of Taiwan's distant water fishing industry and has maintained frequent contact with EU via video conferencing and document sharing.

Meanwhile, EU officials have visited Taiwan twice a year to see whether improvements are being made.

According to COA's sources, on their current trip March 13-21, EU officials said they recognized Taiwan's efforts to improve its legal framework, fishing industry supervision, monitoring and management, traceability systems for fishery and aquaculture products, and international cooperation.

The officials also commended Taiwan for establishing a technologically advanced 24-hour fisheries monitoring center in February 2017.

A red card from the EU could lead to a ban on Taiwan's fishery products being exported to the EU, potentially resulting in an estimated TWD 7 billion (USD 243.6 million) per year in losses.
 
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