Over 400 fishermen from Southern Taiwan yesterday called for the government to set up the Ministry of Maritime Affairs as soon as possible in order to better safeguard their fishing operations.
Led by Wang Hsing-nan, a former Democratic Progressive Party legislator, the fishermen from Chiayi, Tainan and Kaohsiung issued the call while gathering on Ketagalan Blvd. in front of the Presidential Office yesterday. The rally coincided with World Oceans Day.
The demonstrators sent a petition to the Presidential Office, urging President Ma Ying-jeou to actively deal with fishing problems and safeguard their operations. They also called for the government to inaugurate a ministry dedicated to handling maritime affairs, including their fishing safety.
During the rally, some fishermen performed an action play calling for the government to pay greater attention to ocean conservation, noting that sea pollution, and its attendant effects on seafood, may become a new problem for local people.
Meanwhile, Shih Yueh-ying, chief executive of an environmental protection alliance from Changhua County, warned that if the government fails to thoroughly enforce its ban on bottom-trawl fishing practices, fishing resources will be exhausted as it becomes difficult for offspring to thrive.
She said that if established, the new maritime ministry should monitor oceanic conservation, pollution matters and the use of fishing equipment, and should have an independent police force.
Another fishermen’s group leader asked the government to pay closer attention to fishing operations and revise the Fisheries Act to better regulate a subsidy program for fishermen who suspend fishing operations.
1999 2013 The China Post