Study on the Distant Water Tuna Fishery Policy in Taiwan

Autor: Kuo-Huan Ting, 丁國桓
Rok vydání: 2013
Druh dokumentu: 學位論文 ; thesis
Popis: 101
Tuna is a globally important economic fish. Being a major fishery industry in Taiwan and at high sea, the government places tremendous emphasis on distant water tuna fishery and its sustainable development. As changes and trends in international tuna fishery management are developed, the government would adopt their policies accordingly. Appropriate and proactive policies are therefore essential to the survival of tuna industry. In 2005, the government adopted two major policies in response to ICCAT's sanction on Taiwan. This study examines the effects and aftermaths of these policies under the concept of policy science, through the use of document analysis, in-depth interview, SWOT analysis, and PDCA management cycle from a industrial, governmental and academic perspective. Appropriate strategies are derived to serve as reference for future policy-making. Summary of the study is as follows: Tuna industry is an internationalized industry; not only is it a source of excellent protein, but it also assumes the vital role of securing regional economic development and labor employment. Though Taiwan is in a unique diplomatic position, its outstanding fishy technique and diligent fishing population have given it an influential position in tuna catch and management that cannot be overlooked. The 2005 ICCAT's sanction on Taiwan, however, showed that tuna policies and management in Taiwan were in need of review and changes. In 2006, the government adopted a six-year Proposal for Distant Water Fishery Management and Industrial Restructuring. When the project ended in 2012, the Proposal for Sustainable Distant Water Fishery was called to strengthen the management of tuna industry. These two policies are specific tuna management policies that were adopted in Taiwan in recent years. Changes in international tuna industry management laws have a direct effect on the development of tuna industry. The history of such changes can be divided into three stages. The first stage is the pre-1982 era of UNCLOS, when free fishing was allowed. The second stage is the time period between 1982 and 1994, after the passing of UNCLOS but before the passing of FAO's Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. During this time period, distant fishing grounds were restricted and fishing activities were moved to high sea. Fishing activities During these first two stages followed the principle of freedom at high sea. After the passing of FAO's Code of Conduct, concessions to two United Nations' agreements and four major IPOA initiatives allowed regional fishery management organizations to become the main body for high sea resource management. These organizations set stricter regulations on high sea fishing, which in turn allowing for more comprehensive international tuna fishery management. Management trends in international tuna industry organizations include: (1) monitoring fishing capacity, (2) eliminating IUU fishing activities, (3) reduction by-catch, (4) approaching and inspection system for high seat, (5) strengthening management of fishing vessels under 24 meters, (6) improving regional observer coverage, (7) certification system for fish catch statistics and trade measures, (8) digitalization of facilities, (9) introducing ecosystem-based fishery management, (10) strengthening fishery management cooperation, (11) flag states assuming more responsibilities for high sea fishing activities, (12) strengthening scientific assessment of resources, (13) countermeasures for FDA's large-scale purse seiners, (14) management of tuna farming. Given its unique international status, distant tuna industry in Taiwan faces many barriers under the EEZ framework. Although the difficulties the industry encounters can be relieved through cooperation agreements, in practice, there are still many risks. Taiwan's policies on distant tuna fishery can be divided into four stages: (1) in the developmental stage (1950s-1979), the government invested extensive resources to encourage distant tuna industry. (2) During the transformational stage (1980s-1990s), the industry switched to purse seine as driftnet and trawling were regulated by international regulations and fishing grounds became restricted. (3) Excessive development in the management stage (1991-2005) gave rises to policies to reduce fishing capacity, while at the same time implementing management measures with international regional fishery management organizations. (4) The international dominant stage (2006~present) sees an influx of funding to implement MCS' management measures, and establishing clear policies through revising regulations and adopting new ones. “The Proposal for Distant Water Fishery Management and Industrial Restructuring” was set up to rectify industrial activities that violated international regulations. In practice, the Proposal adjusted fishing capacity and improved distant fishery management to reduce the number of fishing vessels and implement MCS management. It also established legislations to stop fish laundering and provided financial aid to help fishing operators overcome the transitional hardship. “The Proposal for Sustainable Distant Water Fishery”, on the other hand, is a continuing policy, whose main focus is to carry out existing MCS measures and combat IUU fishing activities, and to also improve the quality of fish catch statistics and research. This proposal also contains measures for stronger cooperation with coastal nations and countermeasures against pirates. The issues in the current policy include: (1) A lack of financial and human resource support. The costs on the management and human resource are comparatively high in the adoption of MCS. (2)A lack of supporting policies, eg., there is no solution to the debts incurred in the reduction of vessels and the issues in local investments. (3)A lack of timely response to international changes, eg., no adjustment is made of the quota of big-eye tuna. (4)Public participation to certain fishery issues needs to be promoted. The mutual communication between the government and fishery business is required. (5) Policy makers’ ignorance of scientific research. (6) The bureaucracy. In most cases, the national policies are incompatible with fishery diplomacy. Recent years, Tuna industry management in Taiwan adopted regional management organizations regulations to its national management measures. Therefore its tuna industry policies and regulations are in line with the principles of the Compliance Agreement and UNFSA. This is an indication that Taiwan is active in assuming its responsibility as a flag state in the sustainable use of tuna resources, despite its unique international status. This study proposed that tuna fisheries policy adjustment recommendations including: (1) keeping investing funding for management to carrying out MCS measures, (2) strengthening the cooperation with other coastal nations, (3) enhancing the supporting measures for distant water tuna industry policies, (4) supporting the industry in structural transformation to improve competitiveness, (5) cultivating talents for international negotiation and active participation in international fishery conferences, (6) enhancing flexibility in distant water tuna fishery policies.
Databáze: Networked Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations
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