To protect mackerel mothers from spawning, Taiwan announced for the first time that mackerel fishing was banned for 20 days during the peak spawning period.

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In order to protect marine ecological resources and maintain the population of mackerel, the Fisheries Department officially announced on the 9th that all mackerel and scad fishing vessels are banned from fishing in June every year, and from February 14 to March 5 this year, mackerel and scad fishing vessels are also prohibited from entering the northeast sea area to engage in mackerel and scad fishing operations. Lin Ailong, CEO of the Sea Dragon King Love Earth Association, said, "the spawning period of only 20 days is relatively short, but it is a good thing to start. I hope to move forward to 30 days later."

AFD: mackerel spawning peak in February and March, fishing ban for 20 days

In recent years, the mackerel catch has been getting smaller and smaller, and even the trading price has been plummeting. Fishermen are worried one after another, and large pickling fishing vessels banned from fishing for 12 miles have also protested, demanding that the Fisheries Department should open the Red Fire Heart fishing ground. to allow large vessels to fish during the mackerel spawning period from January to the end of April each year, but this will reduce the original scope of operation of small fishing vessels, the two sides continue to dispute.

As a result, the Fisheries Department held a "public hearing on the adjustment of mackerel and scad fisheries management measures" last month to listen to the views of both sides. After the public hearing, the "mackerel and scad Fisheries Advisory Group" set up by the Fisheries Department and various expert representatives also met internally. Shi Junyi, head of the Fisheries Administration Section of the Fisheries Department, said that June is the growing period of mackerel and scad, and fishing has been banned, "but it is more important to ban fishing during the spawning period in order to ensure the smooth survival of species and the production of small fish. Therefore, the measures for the Management of mackerel and scad Fisheries were signed and amended by the Council of Agriculture, and fishing was banned from February 14 to March 5 this year, "to ensure that mackerel that lay eggs will not be caught."

Shih Chun-Yi says that mackerel scads spawn from January to April, with February and March at the peak. "if the mackerel mother is spawning, the fishermen will catch it, resulting in a decline in overall production. In order to restore resources, there is a 20-day fishing ban during the spawning period. this is everyone's consensus."

There is a fixed fishing ban during the mackerel production period in June every year, but with regard to the mackerel spawning period from February to April, Shi Junyi further explained: "this year, we will first set the 20-day period from February 14 to March 5, and another advisory group meeting will be held in the second half of the year to adjust the fishing ban date during the spawning period. there will be clearer regulations then."

Smaller and smaller mackerel (Photo courtesy of Lin Ailong)

Lin Ailong: it is of great significance to carry out dynamic management of fishery in Taiwan.

Lin Ailong, CEO of the Sea Dragon King Love Earth Association, said that the spawning period of mackerel scad ends from the peak in January to the end of April. "it is relatively short to ban fishing for only 20 days now, but it is a good thing to start. I hope I can move forward to 30 days later." Lin also stressed that the great significance of this amendment lies in the dynamic management of Taiwan's fishing industry. "this year is only banned for 20 days, and it will be based on the actual situation every year in the future. Revisit the decision on the time of the fishing ban. "

According to the measures for the Management of mackerel and scad Fisheries, if a fisherman engages in mackerel and scad fishery during the prohibited period, the fisherman's fishery license, the fishery practitioner's cadre crew certificate or the fishing vessel crew manual shall be withdrawn for less than one year; if the circumstances are serious, the fisherman's fishery license, fishery practitioner's cadre crew certificate or fishing vessel crew manual may be revoked.

However, Lin points out, "some people of the older generation do not fully accept the concept of a fishing ban, so they may catch fish illegally and can only rely on the Fisheries Department to strictly enforce the penalty." Is the probability of illegal fishing high? Lin says that, after all, the Fisheries Administration did not conduct a very strict investigation in the past, and there is no way to judge from the number of tickets issued. "there is no direct data to show, only hearing about it."

The declaration of unloading fish and the protection of fishing grounds should be carried out simultaneously.

As for the next step after the fishing ban, Lin believes that the unloading declaration should not be ignored. "in order to achieve total quantity control, it is very important to implement the unloading declaration. Now, no one knows how many fish are actually caught. Only 100% of the unloading declaration can actually start management." In addition, with regard to Chinese cross-border fishing vessels, Lin also stressed that fishermen must work together to report and refer them to the Maritime Patrol, "otherwise we will suspend fishing ourselves and others will come and catch them."

After the fishing ban during the spawning period, will the mackerel and scad fishing vessels with a total tonnage of more than 100 tons be opened to enter the red fire heart spawning fishing area for some time? Shi Junyi stressed that this part of the "mackerel and scad Fisheries Advisory Group" still needs further discussion, and no consensus has yet been reached.

Mackerel fishing all factions fight! Can 100-ton fishing boats be opened to the spawning fishing area of red mackerel and scad? AFD: conditional consent

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