Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) intercepted 652 Chinese fishing vessels operating in Taiwan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from January to September 2023. That’s according to Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) who spoke in the legislature on Thursday.
Kuan says that fines issued to vessels illegally fishing in Taiwan’s EEZ totaled NT$13.75 million (US$420,000) during the same period, and 20 vessels were seized. She says that in addition to fishing violations, a total of 71 people suspected of participating in human smuggling operations were discovered on the vessels, 52 of which were from Vietnam.
Kuan says the OAC is also working to protect Taiwan's marine ecosystem, such as through the public-private partnership promoting conservation efforts for Taiwan's Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins.