Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/09/18
By: Yang Shu-min and Lilian Wu
Taipei, Sept. 18 (CNA) A Taiwanese ship has been caught violating the rules on harvesting
Greenpeace activists prepare to board illegal fishing vessel Shuen De Ching No 888. The Rainbow Warrior travels in the Pacific to expose out of control tuna fisheries. Tuna fishing has been linked to shark finning, overfishing and human rights abuses.
shark fins while operating on the high seas in the Pacific and will face disciplinary action upon its return to Taiwan, the Fisheries Agency said Friday.
Tsay Tzu-yaw (蔡日耀), director-general of the agency, said Coast Guard officers boarded the fishing boat, the Shuen De Ching No. 888, Thursday and completed its inspection the following day.
The officers confirmed that the boat had been finning sharks and throwing the bodies back into the sea. The boat’s hold has been sealed, Tsay said.
The Coast Guard ship is escorting the Pingtung-registered vessel back to Taiwan, a journey that will take about 25 days. [FULL STORY]