Fishery is an important industry in a maritime economy. In the past 50 years, there has been remarkable outcome in the fishery development in Taiwan. However, the overall global environment of fishery has changed drastically in recent years, as seen by the extension of exclusive economic zones (EEZ) by coastal States, coupling with the growing international concern on the conservation of fisheries resources, and additionally, the practice of responsible fisheries and the growing stringent conditions laid on freedom of fishing on the high seas. To cope with such changes, in order to maintain the fishing interests on the high seas, it is important for Taiwan to actively participate in various international fisheries organizations as well as exercise responsible fisheries. Within the country, due to the rapid development of industry and commerce, there has been a significant outflow of work force from fishing villages, resulting aging of the fishing labors. More importantly, contamination of coastal and offshore waters has caused decreasing of fisheries resources, and overuse of water and land resources by aquaculture has also deteriorated the environment of fish farming. Therefore, the future work of the government will focus on the maintenance of orderly coastal and offshore fishing in parallel with fishery resources enhancement, and the promotion of aquaculture that is in harmony with the environment. Further, in order to maintain sustainable operation of the fishery industry, such issues as trade liberalization, industry globalization, maintenance of industry competiveness, and minimization of operation costs should not be disregarded.
