After a video of a woman transporting a fish three times as wide as her vehicle was spotted in Pingtung, police remind the public to take traffic regulations into account to avoid fines.
Video script:
A woman carefully guides her scooter, which is laden with a huge tuna three times the width of the vehicle. Amused onlookers laughed and took photos, while also commenting on the unusual way the fish was tied—tail to mouth—almost in the shape of an archer’s bow.
In fact, they had stumbled upon the exact name for this traditional fish processing method. The so-called “bowfish” method is common among fishmongers for three reasons: First, it is said to prolong the life of the fish. Second, it prevents the fish from jumping away and getting injured. Third, many consumers believe it just looks nicer and fresher, although some experts have said that it may actually negatively affect the meat quality.
In Donggang, Pingtung, where the viral video was filmed, many people transport large fish daily, including black skipjack tuna. However, most transporters abide by traffic laws and regulations to avoid fines. According to traffic safety regulations, the length of items carried on a motorbike or scooter cannot exceed 10 cm from the outer edge of the handlebars. Using the typical width of a scooter, 70 cm, the fish seen in the video is roughly three times wider than the limit.
Deputy Director for the Suo’ao Police precinct says that drivers who violate these laws could be fined between NT$300 to NT$600 (between about US$9 and US$18).
While everyone wants to get their seafood home as soon as possible, it’s a good idea to keep transportation regulations in mind, lest drivers catch more attention than they bargain for.
Amanda Stephens, for Rti News