m. Current Status of Shipbuilding 



The number of Taiwan shipyards building and 

 repairing fishing vessels has decreased dramatically, 

 from 842 in 1989 to just 228 in 1992 (appendix J). 

 Accordingly, the cumulative capacity of fishing vessels 

 has also dropped by over six times during those tliree 

 years. It is evident that Taiwan official policies which 

 discourage new investment in the fisheries sector are 

 having a profound effect on the Taiwan fish building 

 industry. As in Japan and the ROK, Taiwan 

 shipbuilders are constructing cargo and passenger 

 vessels instead of fishing vessels. 



Taiwan officials are, however, constructing fishery 

 enforcement vessels to strengthen their ability to 

 regulate their fishing fleets. Taiwan planned to deploy 

 3 long-range and 2 coastal patrol vessels by October 

 1992. The vessels were scheduled to be constructed in 

 Taiwan shipyards at an estimated cost of $23 million. 

 The Taiwan Council of Agriculture will oversee this 

 project which is primarily designed to enhance 

 Taiwan's ability to enforce international fishery 

 agreements, including the large-scale pelagic driftnet 

 moratorium proclaimed by the United Nations. The 

 annual cost of operating the 5 vessels is estimated at 

 $4.6 million.-'* 



IV. Regulation of Fleet Size 



Taiwan official measures described in the previous 

 sections on driftnet fishing and promotion of 

 shipbuilding provide the best examples of official 

 regulation of fleet size. It should be noted, however, 

 that the buy-back scheme mentioned in relation to 

 driftnet vessels is, in fact, open to all fishing vessels, 

 widi driftnet vessels given first priority. 



V. Vessel Exports 



According to official statistics, Taiwan exported no 

 fishing vessels between 1983-89 and during 1992. In 

 1990, two vessels were exported to Honduras with a 

 total capacity of 403GRT and worth $3.2 million, three 

 vessels were exported to Indonesia with a total capacity 



of 120GRT and worth $1.5 million, and one vessel was 

 exported to Pakistan having 85GRT and worth 

 $200,000. 



Trade statistics for 1991 show that one vessel, 

 having 330GRT and worth $4.7 million was exported 

 to Mauritius, and one vessel of 306GRT and worth 

 $800,000 was exported to Panama. The low trade value 

 figure for the second vessel suggests that, unlike in 

 Japan, Taiwan vessels are either being scrapped, kept 

 in port, or used for other purposes." 



Although not being exported, many Taiwan fishing 

 vessels, especially tuna longliners, are apparently being 

 registered with foreign "flag-of-convenience" nations. 

 One of the leading flag-of-convenience states is 

 Honduras, where at least 70 Taiwan-owned 700- 

 1,000GRT class tuna longliners are registered 

 (appendix K). 



VI. Access to Foreign Fishing Grounds 



Distant-water fishing operations by the Taiwan fleet 

 have been restricted in recent years by the imposition 

 of 200-mile EEZs. Since future Taiwan distant-water 

 fishing can only continue under cooperative 

 arrangements, Taiwan has negotiated a number of 

 fishery agreements, either directly or through private 

 fishing organizations. Taiwan had fishery agreements 

 or arrangements with 22 countries or areas as of the 

 end of 1992. A total of 801 Taiwan distant-water 

 vessels fished under these cooperative arrangements 

 with a total 1992 catch estimated at 200,000 tons.'" 



The most conmion type of agreement generally 

 requires payment of fishing fees, or establishment of 

 joint venture operations in exchange for access to 

 fishing grounds. Taiwan officials conduct negotiations 

 directly with the few countries with which it has 

 official relations. Taiwan officials have concluded 

 fonnal fishery agreements with the following nations: 

 South Africa, the Marshall Islands, the Solomon 

 Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu. 



Taiwan's other bilateral agreements/ arrangements 

 have been established through private organizations, 

 such as the Overseas Fisheries Development Council, 

 the Taiwan Fishermen's Association, the Taiwan Deep- 

 Sea Tuna Boat Owners Association, and private fishery 



126 



