The Legislature passed a law on Friday designed to conserve the seas, build awareness of marine issues, and develop Taiwan’s maritime industries.
The act requires the government to develop policies for dealing with marine pollution. It requires the government to work towards reducing pollution at its sources, and building up its capacity to prevent pollution and restore polluted waters.
The act also designates June 8 as a national marine day, requires the government to set aside a budget for maritime affairs, and mandates the inclusion of ocean-related topics in school curricula.
The Legislature has also passed a resolution on a planned ocean conservation law that is to be drawn up by Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council. The resolution calls on the council to respect the rights of Taiwan’s coastal indigenous peoples when drawing up the law’s provisions.