The Council of Agriculture (COA) organized the International Workshop on Fishing Technology and Industry Development for the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) from November 28th to December 2nd, with the participation of Assistant Secretary General of AARDO Dr. Manoj Nardeosingh, as well as nearly 20 agriculture/fisheries officials and researchers from 10 countries. The event hopes to enhance the participants’ relevant know-how and provide an in-depth understanding about Taiwan’s fishing technology and industrial development through speeches and field visits.

　　The COA stated that AARDO, formed in 1962, is an autonomous inter-governmental organization comprising 30 member countries. AARDO is devoted to the eradication of illiteracy, hunger, poverty and disease in Asian and African countries, as well as the development of rural areas. Taiwan joined the organization under the name “Republic of China” in 1968, and has been elected as Executive Committee Member many times. Currently, Taiwan is serving as a member of the Executive Committee (from 2015 to 2017). Taiwan’s distant water fishery production yield is among world’s top three, especially the scale of its tuna longline fishing industry is even in the first place. AARDO Secretary General, H.E. Eng. Wassfi Hassan El Sreihin visited Taiwan last year (2015) and was duly impressed by Taiwan’s outstanding and advanced fishery development. Therefore, he proposed that Taiwan organized the aforementioned workshop so that Taiwan may share its experiences in fishing technology and fishery development with the international community as well as with AARDO member countries.

　　The conservation of fishery resources has become a universal value. Taiwan has taken various measures in the management of distant water fishery, in order to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, while actively promoting fishing vessel management regulation and establishing catch documentation system which includes vessel monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS), and the counseling on the installation of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). Moreover, carry out management of coastal and offshore fishery based on the nature of the industry and catch, establish fishing forbidden zones, closed fishing seasons, and total catch volume. All these efforts aim to carry out fishery resource conservation and achieve the goal of sustainable management. The world has recognized Taiwan for its effort in transforming its fishery development from the pursuit of catch growth to the conservation of marine ecology and the maintenance of fishery resources in order to ensure sustainable fishery operation.

　　The COA pointed out that in order to let AARDO specialists understand fishery development and application in Taiwan, in addition to workshop and discussion activities, the organizers have also arranged field visits to COA’s Fisheries Research Institute, Addiction Aquatic Development, National Museum of Marine Science & Technology, Changtan Fishing Harbor, Chaojing Park and Wanghaixiang Conservation Area, Taiwan Tuna Association, Zihguan District Fishermans' Association, Kezailiao Holiday Fish Market, Kaohsiung Museum of Fisheries Civilization, Mao-ao Sea-farming Demonstration Zone, Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park among other locations. The COA hopes to reinforce fishery cooperation and technology exchange among member countries through this international workshop, and at the same time, expand potential market for Taiwan's fishing industry while strengthening the overall development of the industry.

　　Representative from countries listed in the National Southbound Policy also participated in the event. The COA not only shared the experiences of successful fishery innovation with participants from different countries, but also actively established technology exchange and cooperation platform to intensify Taiwan’s international participation as well as agriculture and fishery cooperation so as to comply with the National Southbound Policy.