Taiwanese boat confiscated by Solomon Islands

NO RED CARD: The Fisheries Agency said the allegations of shark-finning by the ‘Jing Man No. 666’ would not prompt the EU to apply sanctions on the nation’s aquatic products

By Stacy Hsu and Chen Wei-han / Staff reporters





A Taiwanese fishing boat has been confiscated by the Solomon Islands authorities for alleged shark finning and the case is being investigated by that nation’s judicial authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

At a routine news conference in Taipei yesterday morning, ministry spokeswoman Eleanor Wang (王珮玲) said that the Jing Man No. 666 was seized by Solomon Islands authorities after it entered the South Pacific nation’s Noro Port on April 1 to pick up supplies.

“The Jing Man No. 666 has been held by Solomon Islands customs since April 3, when officials allegedly discovered illegally harvested shark fins on the vessel. The case has been referred by the Solomon Islands fisheries agency to its attorney general’s office,” Wang said.

The Jing Man No. 666, which was confiscated by Solomon Islands authorities on April 3 for alleged shark finning, is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: CNA

Wang made the remarks a day after the Chinese-language China Times published a report claiming that two Taiwanese fishing vessels had been confiscated by Solomon Islands authorities on Monday over alleged illegal shark-finning.

Wang said that according to information obtained by the nation’s embassy in the archipelago, the Jing Man No. 666 had a crew of 11 — its Taiwanese captain, surnamed Lin (林), and 10 Indonesian crew members — all of whom are allowed to move freely in the nation and are in good health.

As the case is being investigated by the Soloman Islands’ judicial authorities, the Taipei Representative Office in Honiara would continue to keep a close eye on the latest developments and offer assistance when necessary, Wang said.

“The ministry will also maintain close contact with the Council of Agriculture, the supervisory body of the Fisheries Agency,” Wang added.

As Taiwan has been named by the European Commission as an uncooperative nation in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, Wang urged deep-sea fishing fleets to refrain from violating international fishing regulations.

“For the sake of the protection and sustainable development of marine resources, as well as the nation’s image and the long-term interests of the nation’s deep-sea fishing industry, our fishermen are urged not to engage in illegal, unreporter and unregulated fishing activities,” Wang said.

The European Commission issued a “yellow card” to Taiwan on Oct. 1 last year following the discovery of a Taiwanese fishing vessel, the Shuen De Ching No. 888, violating shark finning regulations in international waters near Papua New Guinea in early September that year. The ship was fined NT$150,000 and its catch was confiscated.

The commission has threatened to hand the nation’s fishing industry a “red card,” which could prompt an EU embargo on Taiwanese seafood, should Taiwan fail to improve its legal framework and take corrective measures.

Fisheries Agency Deputy Director-General Huang Hung-yan (黃鴻燕) said the agency did not yet know exactly what regulations the crew allegedly violated, or how many sharks and what shark species were involved — although the incident took place almost three months ago.

“Local prosecutors pressed a charge against the crew, but we have yet to understand what they are accused of. The Fisheries Agency might take disciplinary action against the crew pending the court’s ruling,” Huang said, adding that the agency was trying to get more information on the issue via the Taiwanese envoy to the Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands incident would not prompt the EU to apply sanctions on Taiwanese aquatic products, Huang said.

“The Jing Man No. 666 incident is a case of individual misconduct. What the EU has asked for is a systematic overhaul of Taiwan’s fishing laws and regulations so that they are in sync with international fishing laws. The incident will not have any bearing on the EU’s attitude,” Huang said.