July 16, 2020 – Taiwan has announced a ban on the fishing of three large-size shark species. The ban, which was announced on July 15, aims to help preserve the biologically diverse waters surrounding the region.
Any fishing vessels that catch megamouth, great white or basking sharks by accident must release them back into the sea no matter if they are dead or alive. This applies to all Taiwanese fishing boats, regardless of their location.
The ban will take effect in 60 days. This follows previous fishing bans on certain aquatic species, including whale sharks and giant oceanic manta rays.
Despite these positive measures, Taiwan remains a major player in the world shark fin trade. ~Brie Davis
