As Taiwan’s fishing industry awaits a critical EU decision, nonprofits and NGOs call for assistance for migrant workers and improvements in deep sea regulation.

The News Lens
Date: 2018/04/03
By: Nick Aspinwall

Credit: Reuters/TPG

Last month, an explosive video released by the UK-based Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) made unwelcome waves throughout Taiwan’s prosperous yet embattled fishing industry. The EJF revealed that migrant workers at sea are continually abused, underpaid, and subjected to long working hours and deplorable working conditions. The video brings to the forefront the role of Taiwan’s Fishing Agency (FA) in policing up to 1,800 Taiwanese fishing vessels, many of which engage in illegal fishing. Hundreds of additional vessels operate under flags of convenience (FOC) and change flags while at sea, making it harder for Taiwan and other states to regulate their activities.

Following a March visit by European Commission (EC) fisheries investigators, Taiwan may be subjected to a “red card” after receiving a “yellow card” warning in October 2015 for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (COA) has said it has complied with the EU’s requirements and hopes to see its “yellow card” lifted.    [FULL  STORY]