FishSource

Taiwan Hsin-Kang mahi-mahi - longline (FIP)

Last Updated: 2024-10-16

Progress Rating: B

Evaluation Start Date: 2016-03-01

Type: Basic

Status: Active

FIP Lead: Hsing-Kang (H), Overseas Fisheries Development Council of the Republic of China (OFDC)

Stock Profile Link
Common dolphinfish - Western and Central Pacific Ocean

Comments:

The FIP has announced that a new fishing regulation has been established which prohibits the catch of swordfish measuring less than 50 cm, with the mandatory release of any caught specimens. With a new management measure reported, the FIP become B rated.

1. FIP Development	Oct 15	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 1 October 2015 — MSC pre-assessment
2. FIP Launch	Aug 15	Confirmation of project participants 31 August 2015 — Confirmation of participants
2. FIP Launch	Mar 24	Workplan made public 1 March 2024 — Updated 2024 Workplan 1 August 2022 — Updated 2022 workplan 1 March 2016 — FIP action plan adopted
3. FIP Implementation	Apr 24	FIP activities undertaken 3 April 2024 — The FIP has undergone a stock synthesis to test the operating model using constant catch level; the results from the stock synthesis have been made available. 1 October 2023 — The FIP has increased its submission rate for logbook records and landings. 18 August 2023 — The MSE framework has been completed and the preliminary results suggest that future catch is projected to increase due to an optimistic stock status obtained from the current assessment. 31 July 2023 — An experiment conducted in Eastern Taiwan with two fishing vessels examined the effectiveness of mitigation devices demonstrating that when these devices were used during fishing operations, shark predation and sea turtle bycatch occurred, whereas without mitigation devices, dolphins were responsible for catch consumption. Post-experiment, about 80% of the surveyed fishers expressed interest in installing the mitigation devices. 1 July 2023 — The Taiwan Fisheries Agency conducted three information sessions to present draft regulations for mahi-mahi fishing, which included a requirement for using the current version of the logbook. 2 February 2023 — The Steering Committee continues to regularly review logbook data 1 January 2023 — An operational model has developed out of the harvest control strategy and is currently being tested. 1 July 2022 — Workshop on management strategy evaluation was held where an evaluation framework was discussed 1 January 2021 — The design of fishing logbook of the Hsin-Kang mahi mahi fishery has been completed 1 September 2020 — External audit conducted by Taiwan Fisheries Economic Development Council is published; highlights the need for more transparency on ETP, primary species, secondary species and habitats to better inform a working management strategy. 1 July 2020 — A streamlined data collection mechanism has been established to collect data through fishing logbook, landing declaration, and observer program 30 June 2020 — Steering committee meeting held; the committee agreed to invited Taiwan Fisheries Economic Development Council to assist in the audit of the FIP 1 November 2019 — The first observer training was held in November 2019 1 August 2019 — Sea bird identification training held 12 July 2019 — Sea turtle bycatch record 2 July 2019 — A paper on the movement of mahi mahi was published 1 July 2019 — 2018 cruise report 18 May 2019 — Fisheries Research Institute collaborated with Nagasaki University to study the seasonal movement pattern and behavioral characteristics of mahi mahi by using pop-up satellite archival tags. 1 January 2019 — Abstract horizontal and vertical movements of dolphinfish. 31 August 2018 — Fisheries Research Institute has arranged the research vessel to conduct quarterly cruises to collect water temperature, salinity, nutrients, chlorophyll-a and zooplankton measurements data in the surrounding waters of Taiwan. 1 August 2018 — In order to understand the reason for lack of information on lost fishing gear, we interviewed several fishermen and ask the reason about the vacancies in the column of lost fishing gear. 13 July 2018 — A shark identification and conservation workshop was held on 13 July 2018, in which the relevant shark conservation and management measures and sharks identification were introduced. 1 July 2018 — For the tagging experiments, one mahi-mahi was tracked for periods of 30 days reaching depths 0-70 m, and experiencing temperatures ranging from 21.4-30.1°C. 1 July 2018 — Study on the population dynamics of dolphinfish in Taiwan waters. 1 July 2018 — Eastern Marine Biology Research Center of Fisheries Research Institute had been invited to doing Mark-recapture research to collect the fisheries-independent data. It will collect more fisheries-independent data as appropriate in the future. 1 July 2018 — Biological samples such as fin clip and muscle of mahi mahi were collected in the main fishing ports for mahi mahi landings including Dong-Kang, Suao and Hsin-Kang. 1 March 2017 — Mark-recapture research (tagging program) 1 March 2017 — To evaluate the stock biomass, fishing rate and financial variation 1 March 2017 — Collection of fisheries-independent data 1 March 2017 — Establishment and implementation of observer program 1 March 2017 — Development of harvest control strategy 20 December 2016 — Steering Committee meeting was held. Agreed to expand members to another three fishermen associations. 1 August 2016 — Reporting on relevant data of primary species, secondary species, ETP species and ecosystem 1 August 2016 — Collection and recording information on lost fishing gear 1 March 2016 — To improve the data collection system of Hsin-Kang mahi mahi fisheries 1 March 2016 — Studies on stock structure and stock status for mahi mahi in the waters of Taiwan
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Feb 24	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 7 February 2024 — The Fisheries Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture has established a regulation that prohibits the catch of swordfish measuring less than 50 cm, with the mandatory release of any caught specimens effective September 1st, 2024. Violations of these rules may result in fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000. 30 August 2022 — Increase to PI 2.1.2; management measures have been adopted at the regional level for primary species and no shark finning has been reported. 30 August 2022 — Increase to PI 1.2.1; harvest control strategy is in place. 19 July 2022 — Steering committee meeting held; a self-discipline convention was adopted in which fishery operators are required to record catch, ETP species/ interactions and bycatch data into the logbook 19 July 2022 — Increase to PI 1.2.2; management strategy evaluation framework developed and adopted 27 July 2020 — Increase in BMT score 1.2.4; Full assesment was conducted using Stock Synthesis (SS) and all scenarios indicated the stock might not be subject to overfishing 27 July 2020 — Increase in BMT score 1.2.3; Actions of genetic factors analysis and mark-recapture research (tagging program) have been completed increasing information base 1 February 2020 — The Regulations for the Fishing Operations of Coastal and Offshore Tuna Longline Fishing Vessels document was promulgated in February 2020; Captains are now required to fill in the logbooks in the designated format daily, completely and accurately. 1 July 2018 — Port inspection and catch verification at the port of Dong-Kang, Hsin-Kang and Su-Ao respectively - 120 vessels had already been inspected in June 1 January 2018 — Long term research project for developing the stock assessment of mahi mahi in Taiwan waters. 30 April 2016 — Format of fishing logbook has been agreed by on by Steering Committee. 31 March 2016 — Biological sampling taking place. Cooperation with additional countries for sampling to occur from east Pacific Ocean and area around Japan. 31 March 2016 — Preliminary assessment of fishing effort data being conducted. 1 January 2016 — Fishing logbooks have been designed and are provided to FIP boat owners.
5. Improvements on the Water	—	Verifiable improvement on the water
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public