rights issues concerning migrant fishers. The team conducted field visits,
held discussions with various agencies, and held focus group discussions
on key topics. In April 2022, they published a special report titled “Road
to Migrant Fishers’ Rights,” which included multiple recommendations.
This report led to the development of the “Action Plan for Fisheries and
Human Rights” (hereafter referred to as the Action Plan) by the Executive
Yuan in May 2022.
The NHRC subsequently partnered with OMFR to launch the
“Stakeholder Action and Dialogue on Migrant Fishers’ Human Rights
Project” in 2023. This initiative facilitated roundtable discussions
involving NGOs, representatives from fisheries-related enterprises,
government agencies, and foreign consular offices in Taiwan. The project’s
objective was to assess stakeholders’ opinions and suggestions on the
Executive Yuan’s Action Plan and evaluate the effectiveness of its
measures to improve fishers’ rights. To this end, the NHRC adopted a
stakeholder-centered investigative approach and engaged directly with
those affected.
The NHRC task force boarded the “Chin Chuan Hsing,” a squid
fishing vessel docked at the Qianzhen Fishing Port in Kaohsiung, to
observe the fishers’ living conditions and operational practices at sea. Their
visit to the Taiwan Tuna Longline Association (TTLA) in Donggang,
Pingtung, also provided insights into how vessel owners are addressing
international demands for human rights reforms. Another stop in their
journey was the Stella Maris International Seafarers’ Center in Yanchengpu,
Kaohsiung, where they interviewed an Indonesian priest advocating for
improved Wi-Fi access for fishers. The team interviewed ten individuals
across different sectors, including foreign fishers, vessel proprietors,
industry associations, captains, seafood traders, brokers, government
agencies, and civil society groups. The findings presented in this report are
based on desk research, records from these discussions, interviews,
feedback surveys, and ongoing involvement in forums, roundtables, and
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