Promotion of Distant-Water Fishing Industry in Taiwan

The growth of distant-water fishing industry in Taiwan has been steady during the period from 1965-1973. However, since 1973, the slow expansion of distant-water fisheries has been reflected in both the production side and the decreasing catch per unit effort. The increasing operation costs and the shrinking fishing grounds are mainly attributable to the limitation of distant-water fishing industry. The small scale of fishing companies with small-sized vessels also resulted in the inefficient operation in this highly competitive business. For Taiwan, distant-water fishing is not only a means of meeting general protein requirements for its population but also an important source of foreign exchange. As such, the government has planned to double its annual distant-water fish catch to 700,000 MT in six years through an aggressive promotion program