Fri, Jun 07, 2024 page2

• Ocean conservation bill advances

  • By Lee Wen-hsin and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer
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  The Internal Administration Committee yesterday passed the first reading of a proposed ocean conservation law.

  The latest version of the bill, drafted by the Executive Yuan in collaboration with lawmakers, authorizes the Ocean Affairs Council to establish marine protected areas by convening an evaluation committee.

  The committee is to be composed of academics, conservationists, fishers and indigenous Taiwanese, with the latter two groups making up one-third of the members, the bill said.

  

  Ocean Conservation Administration personnel attend to a stranded short-finned pilot whale in Pingtung County’s Jiadong Township yesterday. The juvenile whale, reportedly in stable condition at press time, was transported to a specialist aid station at National Cheng Kung University.

  Photo courtesy of the Ocean Conservation Administration via CNA

  A marine protected area would be approved if two-thirds of committee members vote in favor of it, and a majority of members must be present at the time of voting, it said.

  With the provisions, added to the bill at the insistence of lawmakers across the political divide, fishers and indigenous members could veto a designation if they cast nay votes together.

  Maritime protected areas would be divided into core, buffer or sustainable use zones, each subject to distinct rules and regulations, it said.

  Core zones are closed to all civilian maritime traffic or economic use except ships transiting speedily through the area without stopping, the bill said.

  Scientific voyages could be allowed with authorization, and government vessels can conduct military operations or patrols related to national security or defense, it said.

  Entering a core zone without authorization and refusing to obey orders to depart would be punishable by a fine of NT$50,000 to NT$500,000 (US$1,549 to US$15,489), the bill says, adding that the penalty would apply to parties that left a core zone, but returned to it within two years of receiving the first warning.

  Aquaculture, construction, cable laying and undersea mining are allowed in buffer and sustainable use zones upon government approval, it said.

  Activities that are essential for indigenous cultures or rituals would not be subject to the restrictions in buffer or sustainable use zones, it added.

  Contravening buffer zone regulations is an offense punishable by a fine of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000, while a fine of NT$10,000 to NT$50,000 is incurred if the activity takes place in a sustainable use zone, the bill said.

  The Council of Indigenous Peoples must consent to any plan to establish a marine protected area in waters utilized by indigenous communities, it said, adding that the proceedings would be governed by stipulations of the Indigenous Peoples Basic Act (原住民基本法) and the Ocean Basic Act (海洋基本法).

  The council has full confidence in the commitment of fishers and indigenous people to protecting the environment, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said.

  Their plans would be based on solid science and the council should not have a problem convincing fishers and indigenous members to break a deadlock, Kuan said.
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