understand the requirements. (5) Overseas port inspections Taiwan's distant water fishing vessels operate across three major oceans and rely on foreign ports for resupply or unloading, such as Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, the Marshall Islands in the North Pacific, and Suva, Fiji, in the South Pacific, among others in over 20 countries. Since these vessels seldom return to Taiwan—often only once every one or two years for maintenance—there is a clear need for labor inspections at overseas ports. The Fisheries Agency commissions third-party verification organizations (e.g., SGS) to conduct overseas audits and deploys inspectors to foreign ports to conduct labor inspections. However, enforcement at foreign ports presents its challenges. The Fisheries Agency conducted its first overseas inspections from December 6 to 22, 2022, dispatching three teams totaling nine inspectors to Mauritius and the Marshall Islands ports. With support from embassy staff and Stella Maris, they successfully inspected nine Taiwanese distant water fishing vessels and interviewed 49 foreign crew members. 77 Historically, PSC at overseas bases has primarily focused on checks related to the conservation of protected marine species, fire safety facilities, and general vessel safety rather than labor conditions. Small-scale vessel owner Chen Wen-sheng noted during an interview, “In Pago Pago (Samoa), their coast guard conducts rigorous inspections, especially targeting protected species like sharks and dolphins. They also thoroughly check fire safety facilities such as life rafts, life jackets, and fire extinguishers, ensuring none are expired and all are replenished. You must purchase replacements locally if anything is missing or outdated. Their inspections Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Agency. “Implementing Comprehensive Fisheries Labor Inspections: Fisheries Agency Dispatches Personnel to Overseas Ports,” Press Release, January 3, 2023. (URL: https://www.fa.gov.tw/view.php?theme=Press_release&subtheme=&id=1885, last accessed May 28, 2024). 77 82