The Pacific bluefin tuna population has fallen to just 2.6% of its population before large-scale commercial fishing started.

The News Lens
Date: 2016/07/11
By: The Japan Times

Stocks of Pacific bluefin tuna, which this nation (Japan) consumes in large quantities — equivalent to 80% of the world’s total catch — are now critically low and no optimism is warranted for their recovery. The Fisheries Agency is introducing a new system to control catches, but it needs to make serious efforts to ensure that its steps will be effective in restoring Pacific bluefin stocks. The agency will face severe criticism not only from domestic fishermen but also from the international community concerned with conservation of the species if the new steps fail to bring about tangible results.

In 2014, the International Union of Conservation of Nature put the Pacific bluefin tuna on its list of threatened species, warning that its population has declined between 19 and 33% over the past 22 years and that the condition of the stock is unlikely to improve since the number of new fish added to the fishable population each year, a process known as “recruitment,” is low. The annual catch has declined to as low as 15,000 tons from its 1981 peak of 35,000 tons in the Pacific Ocean.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-07-11
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

A research conducted by a National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) team laid to rest the riddle regarding the formation of the “Blue Tears,” the mysterious blue lights spotted off the coast of Taiwan’s outlying Matsu archipelago from April to September, confirming that the most widespread hypothesis that the blue lights are caused by glow emitting planktons known as dinoflagellates.

A research team led by Chiang Kuo-ping, a marine biologist and director of Center of Excellence of the Oceans at the NTOU, has since April this year taken samples of sea water from a coast where the “Blue Tears” often appear. The team put the water under dissecting microscopes and employed the isolation of single bacterial colonies to successfully confirm that dinoflagellates are a main part of the luminescence emitting organisms off the coast of Matsu.

Chiang said Noctiluca scintillans is a nonparasitic species of dinoflagellates that exhibits bioluminescence when disturbed. It is a single-celled protist and a heterotroph that engulfs tiny food in the sea, Chiang said.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/07/11
By: Sophia Yeh, Chen Chia-lun, and Lilian Wu

Taipei, July 11 (CNA) Taiwan on Monday reaffirmed its stance on its claims in the South China Sea a day before an international tribunal is to rule on a dispute between the Philippines and China in the region.

The government will continue to insist on Taiwan’s sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea, including Taiping Island, the largest naturally formed island in the Spratly Islands, Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺) said Monday.

Huang also said the government will stay on top of all developments related to the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague and has prepared for various contingencies.

He reiterated the government’s three main principles related to South China Sea disputes.     [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: July 8, 2016
By: Joseph Yeh

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The possible signing of a much-delayed Taiwan-France working holiday program

could be sealed soon, as bilateral talks over the matter are moving in a positive direction, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official said on Thursday.

Speaking during a press event, Anna Kao (高安), director-general of MOFA’s Department of European Affairs, said both Taipei and Paris are still working on technical issues over the proposed pact.

Some technical issues, including altering wording in the agreement, will have to involve different government branches of the two countries and thus the process takes time, Kao said when asked by The China Post to comment on the latest progress on the proposal.

Kao said the ministry would make an official announcement as soon as the deal is finalized.

Taiwan has been trying to reach the deal with France for some time.     [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: July 11, 2016
By: Tiffany Ma and Dimitri Bruyas ,Special to The China Post

Many restaurants are gearing up to find a competitive spot in the battle to attract customers’ summer appetites; the same goes for Gourmet Kitchen from Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei (台北美福大飯店). Since its opening in April, Gourmet Kitchen has received high praise from numerous critics. This restaurant takes its success a step further by designing a summertime menu that includes a full-set lunch special featuring six enticing main dishes.

In addition to its lunch special, Gourmet Kitchen includes an array of luxurious dishes for those with eclectic tastes. Their exquisite tastes are built up through multiple components, one of which is its ingredients. Chef Chiu uses local in-season ingredients and imports specially selected ingredients to highlight the dishes.

Another component that enhances the dishes is the mixture of culture and taste. The pan-fried tuna with avocado and sesame sauce, as well as pomelo pepper, sour cream, Japanese mustard and caviar (香煎鮪魚佐芝麻醬酪梨慕斯飾魚子醬) is a creative appetizer invented by Chef Chiu. The smooth texture of the tuna with crispy bacon, mustard and pepper on the side, and other innovative and refreshing sauces perfects the opening to your meal.

You are wrong if you think that’s the best the restaurant has to offer. In celebration of the upcoming Father’s Day (爸爸節), Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei not only provides a delicious meal but also a grand raffle draw to honor deserving fathers. Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei utilizes its five diversely themed restaurants to provide a welcoming environment for every attendee. For instance, main dishes will be offered surf-n-turf style, serving tender rib eye alongside fresh seafood. Where better to enjoy the tastes of the land and the sea simultaneously? Those who are searching for a taste of home need look no further, as Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei also offers traditional Chinese dishes at MIPON (米香). The smell of eel rice rolls and braised steamed grouper will definitely evoke memories of home.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/07/10
By: You Kai-hsiang and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, July 10 (CNA) A 2,000-ton coast guard ship set sail for the South China Sea on Sunday to

patrol Taiping and other islands controlled by the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said.

The Wei Hsing vessel has been deployed to the area since a 100-ton patrol boat stationed on Taiping Island was damaged by big waves there and had to be brought back, the CGA said.

The 2,000-ton vessel will join the rotation of ships dispatched by the Ministry of National Defense to safeguard Taiwan’s territories, the CGA said.      [SOURCE]