Taiwan launched a US$2 million Chinese Taipei Trust Fund to help small island developing states in the Pacific improve their fisheries industries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The fund’s creation was announced at the opening ceremony for the 11th Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Dec. 1 in Apia, Samoa, said Tom Chou, director-general of the ministry’s Department of International Organizations. Trust monies will be spent over five years to assist developing countries in the region expand and upgrade their fisheries industries.
The fund will help the commission carry out the spirit of the WCPFC Convention and related resolutions concerning island nations’ development as well as the effective conservation and management of fishing stocks.
The ROC’s diplomatic partners in the regionKiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands and Tuvaluare expected to benefit from this initiative, fortifying their efforts to realize sustainable development, Chou added.
Especially targeted are means to improve government oversight of the industry and help fishermen boost their catches. Based on individual members’ needs, funds may be earmarked for technical and other forms of training, with an eye to bolster monitoring, control and surveillance capabilities.
The WCPFC facilitates the sustainable management of marine resourcessuch as tuna and other highly migratory fishin the international waters of the Western and Central Pacific. Taiwan, a founding member of the WCPFC Convention when it entered into effect in 2004, has since played an active role in various related causes.
MOFA expects the international scheme to continue protecting Taiwan’s fishing interests in the region. Meanwhile, Taiwan will strive to honor its five-year commitment to enhancing cooperation with other WCPFC members on protecting marine resources and engaging in a wide range of multilateral projects.
Journal of Turkish Weekly (JTW)