Source: Taiwan Today
Taiwan fishermen plying pirate-infested waters may soon be permitted to employ armed guards under legislative changes being drafted by the ROC Fisheries Agency.
The move, which involves amending the Fisheries Act to allow the carrying of weapons on some commercial vessels, comes in response to an increasing number of attacks against fishing boats in the Indian Ocean.
Tsai Jih-yao, deputy director-general of the agency, said Oct. 17 that the government is working towards establishing a legal basis for better protecting ROC fishermen in hotbeds of piracy such as the Somali coastline.
According to Tsai, the agency is coordinating with the Coast Guard Administration, Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Justice on the possibility of greenlighting contractors to protect Taiwan fishing vessels working in certain areas during high seasons.
“A consensus has been reached on revising current regulations governing these activities, but it will take further study before a draft can be submitted to the Cabinet and Legislature for approval,†he said.
Lin Han-chou, CEO of Pingtung County-based Donggang Fishermen's Association, welcomed the agency’s move, describing it as long overdue.
“The threat posed by pirates has been escalating for some time now,†he said, adding that the Taiwan Tuna Association began contracting the Sri Lankan navy last year to provide security on its members’ trawlers.
As part of the agreement, Lin said, each ship carries three machine gun-armed navy personnel who are authorized to open fire in event of pirate attack.
Tsai said the agency is aware of this development and understands that some fishermen have been forced to take matters into their own hands. “This situation underscores the need for legislative changes to ensure the safety of the nation’s fishing fleet.â€