Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/07/09
By: Elaine Hou, Yang Shu-min and Ko Lin

Taipei, July 9 (CNA) Taiwan joined the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) July 4, when it attended a meeting of the agreement's members as a "participating fishing entity" for the first time, the Fisheries Agency said Tuesday.

The country joined under the name "Chinese Taipei" with the aim of consolidating its fishing rights and interests in the Indian Ocean, as well as to assist in the development of Taiwan's offshore fishery industry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a statement.

The Sixth Meeting of the Parties (MoP6) was held at Flic-en-Flac, a seaside village on the west coast of Mauritius, from July 1-5.

SIOFA is an international agreement between several nations that came into force on June 21, 2012. The purpose of the agreement is to promote the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources in the area through cooperation among member states.    [FULL  STORY]