For 1962, the fisheries production of Taiwan totaled 327,046 metric tons. This included everything from deep-sea ventures to fish culture in island ponds and lakes. The fishing fleet of more than 6,000 vessels last year was enlarged by two 550-ton tuna long liners, twelve 145-ton tuna boats, and three hundred craft of less than 50 tons. The fleet delivered 246,000 metric tons of fish in 1962, mostly from the rich fishing grounds surrounding Taiwan.
The island is geographically in an advantageous position with regard to marine resources. The Taiwan Straits average 50 to100 meters in depth and provide a rich and convenient source of bottom fish species. In the east, the ocean floor plunges sharply to a depth of more than 1,000 meters. These waters harbor mackerel, bonito, spearfish, and sailfish. A warm current from the southeast flows along the shores of Taiwan and comes into contact with the China coastal current. Abundant fishing grounds are consequently found north and south of the Penghu Islands (Pescadores).
A vast ocean area extending from the Bashee Channel, just south of Taiwan, to the Java Sea and thence to the Indian Ocean, is known for an abundance of migratory fish, especially tuna. This is among the areas effectively exploited by Taiwan fishermen.
World War II and the early post-war period brought severe setbacks to Taiwan fisheries. Slow recovery was made until '1952, but the last decade has been marked by rapid development stemming from increased realization of the economic importance of fisheries.
Launching of far-ranging tuna boat at Kaohsiung. (File photo)
Deep-sea fishing set the pace, followed by inshore fishing. The powered fishing fleet has grown rapidly, fishing grounds have been expanded, and fishing methods improved. The doubling of fish culture production was achieved by improved methods and utilization of such fast-growing species as tilapia and milkfish.
Sharp Increases
Coastal fisheries have shown no increase. This is because of the reduced number of non-powered sampans and bamboo rafts. Powered craft are taking over and moving out from the coasts.
With 1952 as the base year (l00), the index numbers of the four categories of fishing were as follows in 1962:
Deep-sea 614
Inshore 446
Fish culture 164
Coastal 74
With the increase in production, per capita fish consumption also has been increasing rapidly. The per capita figure for 1962 was 23 kilograms. It was under 15 kilograms before 1950.
Such activities as otter trawling, bull trawling, long line fishing by vessels over 50 tons, and whaling are counted as deep-sea fishing. Taiwan's trawling fleet has been greatly expanded. It now consists of 56 otter trawlers which hauled in 22,531 metric tons of fish in 1962 and 141 pairs of bull trawlers which chalked up 82,363 tons of fish in the same period.
Trawling grounds of Taiwan include the southern part of the East China Sea, the Straits of Taiwan, the South China Sea, and Tonkin Bay. Trawlers are limited by conservation and military boundaries imposed by the government. Bottom fish were being depleted in the late 1950s, and since 1959 the government has not encouraged the construction of additional trawlers.
Taiwan has 39 long-range tuna clippers from 50 to 550 tons. The catch is principally tuna, spearfish, and sharks. This is the most promising fishery venture of Taiwan because the resources are virtually without limit. One boat ventured into the North Atlantic last year. Catch for 1962 was 113,595 metric tons.
By motorizing craft under 50 tons for inshore fisheries, remarkable production gains have been made. New fishing methods and improved gear also have helped. Motorization began on the northeast coast in 1952 with installation of four-horsepower diesels in sampans. The experiment was immensely successful. More fish were caught with less manpower and fewer working hours. Other fishermen demanded motors, and U.S. aid and government assistance helped import them from Japan.
Small Tuna Craft
Small and medium-sized motorized vessels were designed and built 10cal1y to permit fishing in waters previously inaccessible.
During the 1953-1954 period, 103 such boats of from 5 to 15 tons were completed. After that an average of about 300 motorized boats of less than 50 tons were built annually. By 1962, this fleet numbered 5,440 vessels with a tonnage of 45,200.
Tuna boats of less than 50 tons numbered 620 last year and caught 16,510 metric tons of fish. More than 1,200 powered vessels under 50 tons are engaged in long lining for sea bream and other fish. These boats landed 13,383 metric tons in 1962.
As inshore motorization proceeded, boat size gradually increased and engines grew larger. Fishermen cast their nets in more distant waters. Gear and equipment were modernized. For instance, in torch fishing the source of light has evolved through the wood fire, kerosene and acetylene lamps, electric lights of 100-300 watts and then of 1-3 kilowatts, and finally to the mercury lamps of today.
Motorization has made other differences. In torch net fishing, the net formerly was handled by three non-powered sampans employing 12 to 16 fishermen. The new method involves a single motorized sampan and a crew of three. The average catch per fisherman has increased five times. Taiwan has 880 teams of torch fishermen, each team operating one to three boats. The 1962 catch was 32,866 metric tons.
Purse seining was introduced at Nanfang Ao, a harbor in the northeast, with government encouragement. The method was successful for such migratory fish as mackerel and bonito. One hundred and fifty pairs of purse seiners caught 22,735 metric tons last year.
Bountiful catch of milkfish, which are raised in ponds to increase food supply. (File photo)
Hand-line fishing and pole and line fishing with live bait have been introduced. The latter is widely used in American and Japanese fishing for bonito and mackerel, but Taiwan development has been slow because of inadequate bait fish.
Synthetic Nets
Harpooning of spearfish, drag netting, and trolling are still employed by Taiwan's fishermen.
Synthetic fiber nets have been a big step forward. Such nets arc stronger, lighter, and have lower visibility. They have been adopted for purse seining, drift and gill netting, and trawling.
Coastal fisheries showed slight increases up to 1950, but motorized craft can range beyond the close-in waters. The trend has been away from the old labor-intensive methods of fishing. However, 5,650 motor-less sampans and 16,000 bamboo rafts are still in use.
Tuna, spearfish, and sharks are sold individually at Taiwan's many new, modern markets. (File photo)
Most important gear in coastal fishing are torch nets, ring nets, and drift nets.
Fish culture has been based on two species. The tilapia was introduced from Indonesia in 1946 and has multiplied rapidly. Production per hectare runs as high as seven metric tons because of rapid maturation. Taiwan's tilapia begin to reproduce after three months and breed once every few weeks. This also has the disadvantage of overpopulating the pond and stunting the growth of the fish.
Emphasis now is placed on raising more males. Experiments have included crossing of the African tilapia zilii with the native female species in hope of bringing about all-male offspring that grow more quickly and to a larger size.
The improvement of milkfish culture was accelerated in 1952 after successful experimental and demonstration work. Algae production was increased in the bottom of ponds. The Chironomid larvae, which destroyed the milkfish algae food, was exterminated. Chemical fertilizers were developed to treat the ponds. Milkfish production has risen to 2,000 kilograms per hectare, highest in the world. About 65 per cent of culture production consists of milkfish.
Other major cultured species are silver carp, grass carp, common carp, and mullet. Oysters and clams are cultured on 8,900 hectares of beds along the west coast, where sandy flats exist. Fish culture contributes about 18 per cent of Taiwan's fisheries output.
Efficient Marketing
An efficient marketing system gets the catch to the consumers' table in the shortest possible time. On a subtropical island where temperatures run into the 90s four or five months a year, refrigeration and speed are essential to avert spoilage and waste.
New marketing regulations were promulgated in 1950 after exhaustive studies by the government. The practice of selling fish through wholesale markets was begun under the Japanese in 1904, but regulation of the markets did not begin until 1922. By 1940, the number of markets was 105. When the Pacific War began, fisheries production slumped to an all-time low. Only 23 markets remained and these were placed under management of a government-operated monopoly.
When Taiwan was restored to the Republic of China in 1945, marketing regulations of the Japanese were abolished. Marketing management was entirely in private hands. Confusion ensued. Two years later the government began to assume administrative control over the markets.
The 1950 regulations stipulate that first sales be made through the wholesale market in the locality where fish are landed or to which they are transported. Markets in producing areas are to be operated by the local fishermen's association, while those of consuming areas are to be managed by a committee including members of the local fishermen's association and the local government. Every market must have facilities for auction and refrigeration. Licenses are issued by the provincial government.
All sales are by public auction and auctioneers are employed by the market. The fisherman or his representative may conduct the auction for his own fish, if he wishes. Buyers are limited to retailers, large consumers; and registered wholesalers. (The wholesale may consign his purchase to other consumption areas for auction to retailers and large consumers.
After the catch is unloaded at the market, it is weighed and sorted according to species and grades. The fish are then displayed for auction. In the case of tuna, spearfish or other large, species, bids are called for each fish. Smaller species are sold by the box.
Auctioneers are subject to dismissal or other penalty if found guilty of price manipulation, conspiracy with buyers, or other irregularity
Fish must be removed immediately after sale. Payment is made within three days. Failure to observe regulations may subject buyers to suspension or expulsion.
Smaller fish are auctioned by the basketful. (File photo)
Markets levy a handling charge of 2 ½ per cent of the sales price. Such funds finance operations and new construction. Markets have made much progress in improving their facilities. Eight market buildings, four cold storage plants, and four auction areas were constructed between 1959, and 1961. Seven market buildings are slated for completion this year.
Even to Villages
Iced fish are transported to cities, by truck. The fish are iced and packed in wooden boxes or bamboo baskets. ·Refrigerated rail cars have been used for long-distance transport. Fresh fish thus reach remote villages as well as large cities.
There are 96 wholesale markets on Taiwan, 54 of them in producing centers and 42 in consumption areas. In 1962, some 254,000 metric tons of fish valued at NT$1.9 billion (US$47,500,000) were sold through wholesale markets. Compared with 1952, this was an increase of more than 180 per cent. Only one wholesale market is permitted in a city except for Taipei, which has two. The Taipei markets handled 44,828 metric tons of fish valued at NT$400 million (US$10 million) last year. The Kaohsiung market, largest in a production area, sold 28,895 metric tons valued at NT$239 million.
Both the national and provincial governments have been increasingly aware that dramatic steps are required to keep pace with Taiwan population growth. Vast conservation and irrigation projects have been undertaken. Reclamation of tidal and waste lands is under way on a vast scale. The third great possibility of an expanded food supply involves the bounty of the surrounding seas.
Fisheries are receiving extensive and continuing assistance and encouragement from government. At the same time—as indicated by the de-emphasis on trawlers—there is awareness that conservation is essential, that the supply of fish is not inexhaustible and that new and more distant grounds must be found. The goal is not only more fish to feed more people, but a safeguarding of the future and the assurance that more fish will mean a higher standard of living for those who catch as well as those who eat them.