Taiwan News
Date: 2015-08-31
By: Jocylin FC, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Illegal fishing in the Hengchun Peninsula, Pingtung has aggravated over the years. Despite

Illegal fishing endangers marine conservation. Taiwan News (2015-08-31 19:15:31)

many environmental groups warn against the ecological disruptions along with other environmental issues, many fishermen or local vendors ignore the warnings and the laws.

Recently, Kenting National Park has received reports on illegal fishing by local water activity owners. Some tourists witnessed a few local water activity owners drove their boats into the Houbihu Marine Resource Conservation Area to fish. Another water activity owner even carried a grouper and a scribbled snapper on to the shore.

The illegal fishing is quite regular in the area. The local environmental activists said the national park can only fine up to NT$3,000 and the enforcement lacks determination. Environmental consciousness is not common among the locals for they believe “the others will act on it if they don’t make a move first”. Additionally, the devices that mark the boundaries of the conservation area were taken down before Typhoon Goni. This gave the fishermen a chance to fish in the area before the boundary markers were placed again.     [FULL  STORY]