Environment

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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Body of Missing Ecologist Found

Environment 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments , ,

The body of missing ecologist Wang Wulang was found yesterday in long grass about 320 meters from the lighthouse on Pengjia Islet. He had been reported missing the previous weekend after failing to return from the island by ferry to Keelung. The prominent ecology lecturer had a passion for coastal environments, and had once spent 67 days walking Taiwan’s 1,500 kilometer coastline. He lectured for the Wilderness Protection Society and National Museum of Marine Science and Technology. 2-meter tall grass

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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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Wandan Mud Volcano Flares Up

natural gases burning wandun mud volcano Pingtung County
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

The mud volcano which is located in Pingtung County in Taiwan’s south, last erupted in late April, created a spectacular light show this evening June 24 as it blazed from 6:00PM. At 10:00PM it was still burning. Residents and visitors took pictures and posted them on social media. The mud volcano erupts periodically at different locations within a roughly 2 kilometer radius, as the pressure of natural gasses builds up. Locals sometimes ignite the gases.

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Four People Killed and Eaten by Bears in Japan

Bear hunted after it killed and ate a person
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Police stepped up patrols around an area of forest in Akita Japan, yesterday, June 18, to keep people from entering the area after a series of deadly attacks by bears. The bodies of four people killed in bear attacks have been found since late May. All of the victims were people in their 60s and 70s, who ventured into the forest to forage for wild bamboo shoots and other wild foods that are a popular delicacy in the region. On

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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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Vietnam Marine Environmental Disaster a Threat to Taiwan’s New South Policy

the greiving wife of a fishing vessel's captain who was killed by a naval missile strike
Business and Economy Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Democratic People’s Party legislator Su Chih-fen (蘇治芬) today urged the government of Taiwan to confront the issue of the massive fish-kill in Vietnam that the Vietnamese people are blaming on pollution from a steel mill in Ha Tinh Province controlled by Formosa Plastics Group. Su also called on the Taiwanese industrial giant, and other Taiwanese corporations investing in the region to show corporate responsibility, including respect for the environment and human rights. Su, who represents constituents in Yunlin County pointed

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Live Tiger Shark Pups Rescued in Taitung: Valuable for Research

A tiger shark pup is measured
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

Fishermen operating out of Chenggong fishing port in Taitung County, Taiwan, brought in two dead pregnant female tiger sharks in two consecutive days, from which 75 live baby sharks were rescued. The tiger shark pups were taken to be tagged and released by the Council of Agriculture’s Fisheries Research Institute. The first shark was brought in on Monday, June 13, and another Tuesday, June 14. Video broadcast by news networks shows a fish trader at the port cutting open the

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Taiwan’s Oldest Nuclear Reactor May Be Restarted: If Safe…

Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

The premier of Taiwan said he supported restarting the first reactor at the Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant, if it is safe to do so. The comments were made Sunday June 5, as Taiwan faces a power crisis caused by limited supply and high demand, as the nation cranks up air-conditioners to cope with record high temperatures for June. Problems with the reactor, at Taiwan’s oldest nuclear power plant caused it to be shut down for maintenance in December 2014. The

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Transport Ministry Back-pedals on Licences for Riders of Electric Bicycles

A bikelane in Taipei City
Culture Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Taiwan’s Ministry of Transport backed off on plans to introduce licences for riders of electric bicycles starting next year. Thursday, May 19, officials announced that while they will continue with enforcing safety provisions for the vehicle class, they won’t require riders to be tested and licensed. Academics and industry members have been criticising the move to introduce the licence requirements since the Ministry of Transport announced their plan earlier this month. Critics tend to agree with the need for tighter

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