Marine and Fisheries

Crew of Taiwan-owned Boat Released by Pirates after 4 Years Captivity

Somali pirate in front of Taiwanese fishing vessel
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

The Taiwanese chief engineer of a fishing boat was set free yesterday, along with 25 crew from China, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia, after being held captive in Somalia for more than four years. The Taiwanese owned, Oman registered fishing vessel Naham 3 was the last commercial ship captured by pirates during Somalia’s pirate scourge. The crew was kidnapped March 2012, but the Taiwan ship owner claimed he had no money to pay the ransom. Of the 29 original crew,

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Oil Spills Pose Environmental Threat After Typhoon

Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Ships cast adrift after cables snapped during Typhoon Meranti’s onslaught in southern Taiwan and Kinmen, now pose an environmental threat as oil spills from the stranded vessels. Authorities are struggling to contain oil spills in Kaohsiung’s Xiziwan (West Bay), and on the island of Kinmen (Golden Gate). Four Seine-Net fishing vessels whose cables snapped during the typhoon ran aground in Xiziwan, and oil spilling from the boats is threatening a nearby coral ecosystem. After viewing the site on September 15,

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Greek Carrier Sinks Chinese Fishing Boat: 6 Rescued, 8 Missing

approximate location of ship when it sank a Chinese fishing boat
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

The Greek registered bulk carrier Anangel Courage sent out a distress call at approximately 5.30am Tokyo time after it collided with a Chinese fishing vessel, which sank near the Senkaku (Diaoyutai) Islands. Six crew were rescued by a Japanese Coast Guard ship, and 8 are missing. Coast guard boats from China and fixed-wing aircraft from Japan were immediately dispatched to the area. Taiwan has sent search and rescue vessels from Taoyuan and Keelung coast guard stations. The Greek ship is

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American Ship Catches Fire in Kaohsiung Harbor

The American Eagle, fishing vessel on fire in Kaohsiung Harbor
Fire Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

An American-flagged fishing vessel caught fire while docked in Kaohsiung harbor today, August 4, 2016. Nine fire trucks and two fire boats were dispatched to deal with the blaze. At 3:13pm, thick smoke and flames erupted from behind the bridge of the 258.4 foot American Eagle. The flames spread to the bridge, but fortunately nobody was trapped on the vessel and no casualties were reported. The cause of the fire is being investigated. It took firefighters more than an hour

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Vietnam Government Comes Clean on Toxic Waste: Formosa to Blame

protesters hold banners condemning Formosa Plastics Group
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The government of Vietnam has at last announced the results of an investigation into a massive fish-kill in the central coastal provinces. The fish-kill was caused by toxic pollutants released from a steel-mill owned by Taiwan-based industrial conglomerate Formosa Plastics Group. The announcement was made late afternoon Thursday June 30. Citizens have long known the steel-mill in Ha Tinh Province was responsible for the disaster, but the government, who didn’t respond to the environmental emergency for the first two weeks

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Taiwan Tightens Net on Protected Fish Species: Imports Intercepted

Frozen humphead wrasse intercepted trying to enter Taiwan
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Customs officials yesterday found protected species in a shipment of frozen fish imported from Indonesia. The shipment had been declared to contain blackspot tuskfish (Choerodon schoenleinii), also known as green wrasse, ‘and other parrot fish’. When inspected, the shipment was found to include 23 green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum), with a total weight of 80kg. The species is protected under Taiwan’s wildlife protection laws, and is banned from export or import. When told the shipment violated the law, a representative

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