The Legislative Yuan yesterday passed the Ocean Basic Act (海洋基本法), which aims to make Taiwan a marine nation that strives toward ensuring sustainable use of the sea and its resources, as well as a facilitator of collaboration on international marine affairs.
The act stipulates that the central government should publish a white paper on ocean policy and marine pollution control within one year of the law’s enactment, and revise it regularly based on its results, and domestic and international developments.
Government agencies at all levels should review their marine policies based on the white paper and correct any action that contradicts the central government’s policy, the act says.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
The government should educate the public about the ocean and make information on the ocean more accessible; build a marine industry with high added value; ensure sustainability in marine ecology and resources by promoting environmental friendly measures; and engage in exchanges in international marine affairs, it says.
The government should guarantee and protect the “marine rights” of citizens of all ages and ethnicities, the act says.
The government should allocate and make good use of domestic resources to form policies to tackle marine pollution at its sources, thereby facilitating the nation’s efforts to combat pollution, it says.
It should approach the planning of land utilization in a way that is prudent and conducive to mitigating marine disasters, as well as pushing marine remediation efforts, the act stipulates.
Pending the president’s signature, the act also designates June 8 as National Oceans Day to coincide with a resolution carried by the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development proclaiming the day as World Oceans Day to raise public awareness of marine conservation.
The government is responsible for streamlining the efforts of relevant agencies on marine affairs and the formulation of regulations on utilization of the marine resources, and must seek to achieve balance between the nation’s operations and the challenges it faces at sea, the act stipulates.
The government should engage in international collaborations on protecting, developing and sharing marine resources in a manner that is sustainable, mutually beneficial, and respects history and the nation’s sovereignty, it says.
The government should be generous in planning a “marine budget” and take any measure necessary to ensure that the budget is sufficient to cover relevant policies, the act stipulates.
To uphold and advance the nation’s marine rights; ensure national and maritime security; and respond to major contingencies; the government should plan strategically and handle marine affairs with a global perspective, as well as redouble efforts when handling marine issues, thereby boosting the nation’s maritime power, it says.
The nation should foster the marine industry by introducing policies, including financial and taxation benefits, and cultivating talent, the act says.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old