fishing industry

First tuna of the season a record-breaker at 320kg

Su'ao No.1 tuna April 2023
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments , , ,

The first tuna of the 2023 season at the Port of Su’ao weighed in at 320 kilograms, breaking an all time record for first catch of the year, and a 10-year seasonal record. The 267-centimeter long bluefin was caught by the Zai Fa No.68 near the Diaoyutai (Senkaku) Islands in waters covered by the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement. The captain of the Zai Fa No.68 reported the catch at 8:00 am Tuesday, April 11, estimating its weight at 190 kilograms. However,

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Fishermen net giant sunfish off west coast

giant ocean sunfish Chiayi fisheries
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Fishermen from Chiayi County accidentally caught a rare ocean sunfish off the coast of Dongshi Township, and it was displayed and auctioned at the Dongshi Fish Market this morning. The fish weighed in at 180 kilograms and fetched NT$20,000 at auction. Seafood merchants noted that the fish is popular among seafood gourmets, with its intestines – known as “dragon intestines, being the most valued part. Wu Chunyu of the Chiayi District Fisheries Association pointed out that sunfish often appear in

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Chinese captain of Taiwanese fishing vessel who ordered shipwrecked pirates killed loses appeal

pirates capsized boat
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A Chinese national sentenced to a 26-year prison term for ordering four Somali pirates from a capsized vessel shot dead lost an appeal to the High Court yesterday, May 18. Wang Fengyu (汪峰裕), 43, was convicted of homicide by the Kaohsiung District Court January 29, 2021, for ordering the killings while serving as captain of the Kaohsiung-registered longliner Ping Shin No. 101 while it was operating in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia, September 29, 2012. According to

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3 of 4 crew of sunken fishing boat rescued after 36 hours adrift on makeshift raft

men on makeshift raft rescued
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Three crew members who abandoned their sinking fishing vessel Wednesday night, May 5, were found adrift on a makeshift raft this morning, Friday, May 7. The captain of the Pingtung County based Yushunsheng No. 168 sent a distress call at around 11:00 pm Wednesday, saying that the boat was sinking after hitting rocks on a reef off Cape Eluanbi, the crew then abandoned ship. A search and rescue operation ensued after a Coast Guard cruiser sent to the location was

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Crew of four missing after fishing boat hits reef off Taiwan’s southernmost point

coast guard personnel searching for missing boat and crew off south coast of Taiwan
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A partially sunken fishing was located this evening, but there were no signs of a crew of four, after the captain of the vessel made a mayday call saying his boat was sinking off Cape Eluanbi yesterday evening, May 5. A Coast Guard cruiser was dispatched to the location of the sinking vessel after the captain of the Pingtung County-based Yushunsheng no. 168 sent a distress call, saying that his ship was taking on water after hitting rocks on a

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Ship launch doesn’t quite go to plan at Port of Kaohsiung

listing ship at launch
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A ship suddenly tilted over precariously as soon as it hit the water during a launching ceremony at a shipyard in Kaohsiung Harbor this morning, March 27. Kaohsiung Harbor Police said that the 700-ton ocean-going fishing vessel “Shengfan 188” suddenly tilted over to a 45 degree angle when it was launched at the Sanyang Shipyard in Qijin District at around 11:00 am. Water almost reached the gunwales, and the ship was in danger of sinking. Two nearby tugboats immediately went

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Multiple boats destroyed by fire at fishing port

fishing vessels on fire at Yanpu Fishing Port in Pingtung County Taiwan
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

At least seven boats were destroyed by fire in Yanpu fishing port in Donggang Township, Pingtung County yesterday, including five large ocean going long-liners. The fire started on a tuna fishing boat undergoing repairs in the port at around 4:00 pm, and in windy conditions, the fire quickly spread to other vessels. Electrical wires are suspected to be the cause of the fire, according to a report in Liberty Times. A pall of thick, black smoke could be seen as

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