Shining Light into Dark Corners management of overseas fishing affairs, which has To understand the actual situation of fishermen, severely tarnished Taiwan’s international reputation Chairperson Chen Chu and other Commissioners and has even affected the entire fishery product of the NHRC went to the Presbyterian Church in export supply chain. In 2018, “Fu Shen No.11” Taiwan Seamen and Fishermen’s Service Center violated the C188 - Work in Fishing Convention in Kaohsiung on November 27, 2020, to have and thus was detained in Cape Town, South a discussion with the Fisheries Agency and the Africa. It was the first fishing vessel to have been Pastor of the Presbyterian Church (PCT), Joshua internationally detained. Member Wang Mei-yu and Chen, who has paid close attention to the affairs Wang Yu-ling initiated an investigation case and regarding foreign fishermen for a long time. proposed corrections. Over the last few years, the On November 27, 2020, Chairperson Chen Chu and commissioners of the NHRC visited the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan Seamen and Fishermen’s Service Center in Kaohsiung. The second from the right is Pastor Joshua Chen, the director of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan Seamen and Fishermen’s Service Center in Kaohsiung. Joshua Chen mentioned that although it is not Human Rights Practices” and “Trafficking in Persons possible that the amendments to these three Report (TIP Report)” have consistently highlighted relevant laws regarding “Distant Water Fisheries” Taiwan’s distant water fishing vessels’ issues, such can immediately solve all the problems since as human trafficking and exploitation problems. In they officially took effect, it was a good start for 2020, Taiwan’s distant water fishing vessels’ catches improving the status of human trafficking, salary suffering from long-term abuse to death while Distant Water Fisheries,” the fully amended “Act were once again included in the US’s “List of Goods slashing, labor exploitation, and abuse in the working on the fishing vessel “Fu Tsz Chiun” from to Govern Investment in the Operation of Foreign Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.” past. Kaohsiung and another fisherman who fell into Flag Fishing Vessels,'' and parts of regulations the sea and went missing. The case attracted under the “Fisheries Act.” The three relevant laws The “List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or widespread negative attention as well as criticism regarding distant fisheries were passed by the Forced Labor” is generally deemed as a credible The NHRC to Become a Communication Bridge between the Government and the NGOs from international bodies. Legislative Yuan on July 5, and promulgated by the source of information on forced labor in the United In May 2021, the Control Yuan published three President on July 20, 2016, and entered into force States, and it is also the basis for US enterprises investigation reports concerning the human rights of At that time, the European Union listed Taiwan on January 20, 2017. The foreign crews of fishing to make purchase decisions and formulate social foreign fishermen, including the case that caused as an Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) vessels now have legal claims to their rights and responsibilities policies. Moreover, the United Taiwan to be included in the US’s “List of Goods fishing country and put forward 11 suggestions interests. The “Act for Distant Water Fisheries” and States is one of the major export markets of Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.” After for improvement. On October 1, 2015, Taiwan its related sub-law regulations have become the Taiwan’s fishery products, which are mainly sold to the investigations, it was discovered that there was issued a “yellow card’ warning by the foundation for fishermen’s labor rights regulations. supermarkets, buffets, and restaurants. In the future, were indeed violations, such as unlawful deduction European Commission for the following reasons: the exports of Taiwan’s distant water fishery will of pay, excessive working hours, withholding incomplete legal framework for fisheries, the fine After the three relevant laws regarding “Distant face demanding restrictions, which will affect the of identification and documents, and the labor is disproportionate to the illegal gains, ineffective Water Fisheries” took effect in January 2017, the entire distant water fishery product supply chain. brokerage agency may have forced the foreign management on distant water vessels, failure to Fisheries Agency strictly executed them. Within comply with the relevant obligations of international 2 years, more than a hundred violations were The third investigation case is about the incident fisheries organizations, and so on. imposed and the total amount of these penalties of collapsed Yilan Nanfang'ao bridge in 2019, exceeded 120 million. On June 27, 2019, after which caused multiple injuries and deaths of To prevent Taiwan from being subjected to EU 3 years and 9 months of consistent hard work, the fishermen. Member Wang Mei-yu and Wang trade sanctions that prohibit Taiwanese fishery EU’s IUU “yellow card” warning was finally lifted. Yu-ling initiated an investigation case and found products from entering the EU market, which will that foreign fishermen are requested to safeguard the fishing vessels while they were not operating at and proposed amendments to fishery laws. The Inclusion in the US’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor Affects Taiwan’s Distant Water Fisheries Exports three relevant laws regarding “Distant Water In recent years, Taiwanese fisheries have faced a working and living environment as well as low Fisheries” include the newly legalized “Act for lot of international pressure due to its ineffective insurance coverage rate. have a negative impact on Taiwan’s fisheries, the Taiwan government quickly introduced legislation 18 US State Department’s annual “Country Reports on sea; as a result, they do not have the opportunity to go ashore, which causes them to have poor On November 27, 2020, Chairperson Chen Chu and commissioners of the NHRC joined a symposium held in the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan Seamen and Fishermen’s Service Center in Kaohsiung. 19