Taipei, Dec. 7 – The Taiwan government has pledged $2 million (NT$63.1 million) over a five-year period to support the growth of fishing industries in developing Pacific countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
The commitment was announced during the Taiwan delegation’s participation in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (WCPFC) in the Cook Islands. Greg Lee, deputy head of MOFA’s Department of International Organizations, stated at a news briefing that the allocated funds would start in 2024.
The $2 million contribution will be channelled through the WCPFC, a regional organization of which Taiwan is a member. The funds are designated for the implementation of conservation and management measures, providing financial, scientific, and technological assistance, and aiding developing member nations in upgrading their fishing industries.
This commitment builds on Taiwan’s previous contribution of $2 million to the WCPFC, distributed between 2017 and 2022 for similar purposes, as reported by MOFA.
The WCPFC, consisting of 26 members, serves as a regional fisheries management organization established in 2004 to conserve and manage tuna and other highly migratory fish stocks across the western and central areas of the Pacific Ocean. Taiwan, participating as Chinese Taipei, is one of the founding members of the WCPFC.
The announcement comes during the 20th Regular Session of the Commission of WCPFC, taking place from Dec. 4-8 in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
