Opinion Article
A Limit to
Super-Seiner Construction?
(By Mr. James Tsai, June 25, 2004)
Recent articles posted on
Atuna addressing the issue of fast growing purse seiners fisheries have drawn a
lot of social attention as well as public criticism for their threats to the
Pacific Tuna Fisheries. At the other side of the earth, a Spanish company
celebrated the launch of a 2900-ton tuna purse seiner, which claimed to be the
best tuna purse seiner in the world
Being a member of the fishing industry, I strongly oppose unlimited construction
of super purse seiners. Larger nets of super purse seiners may be able to carry
larger loads of fish. However, the use of such equipment certainly ruins the
sustainability of the fisheries. The concept of maintaining sustainable fishery
has been actively advocated for many years. It is rational and necessary to call
for the limitation on fishing activities which are rapidly expanding in the WCP
region.
In the past, the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has played a crucial role in
issuing fishing licenses to newly built super seiners. It has and it will
continue. One thing that we should keep in mind is that all currently operating
super purse seiners hold valid licenses. Hence, in considering the survival of
the fishery industry and the conservation of tuna stocks, the island countries
should seriously consider feasible means to cease the construction and
utilization of super purse seiners. Investing in a super purse seiner to fish in
the WCP region entails tens of million dollars. It is judicious to believe that
potential seiner owners will not pursue the investment if they are uncertain as
to the acquisition of valid licenses in the FFA waters. Hence, it is absolutely
necessary for the FFA to get involved, for instance, keeping the 205-tuan boat
ceiling.
As Taiwanese operators manufacture some of the super purse seiners, the
government in Taiwan should also consider imposing a ban on exporting these
super purse seiners. The Japanese government has taken similar action. Japan has
imposed a total ban on exporting tuna longline fishing vessels in order to
protect the fishery resources.
For a fact, all the engines and main parts of the Taiwanese super purse seiners
are produced and imported from Japan. In other words, Japan has, in some ways,
helped promote the Taiwan tuna purse seiners industry. Similar to her ban on
high-tech weapon exports, if the Japanese government is willing to cooperate and
conserve the tuna stocks by imposing a ban on the export of these components and
main parts, the production of super seiners in Taiwan will certainly be
affected. Hence, the environmental impact caused by super seiners will be
minimized and the situation can then be brought under control.
Mr. James Tsai is the President of Fong Kuo Fishery Co. Ltd., in Taiwan
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