SUSPECT HIGH SEAS DRIFTNET VESSELS NOT TAIWAN

UNCLAS TAIPEI 003251

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS TO AIT/W

STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC

STATE ALSO FOR OES/OMC - TOM KING

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS PREL PHSA SENV TW ESTH
SUBJECT: SUSPECT HIGH SEAS DRIFTNET VESSELS NOT TAIWAN
FLAGGED: INFO ON INDONESIAN VESSEL REQUESTED

REF: A) TAIPEI 03152 B) STATE 216948


1. Fisheries Agency Deputy Director-General James Sha has
provided AIT with a written response to the questions posed
in Ref B regarding suspected high seas driftnet fishing
vessels in the North Pacific. Mr. Sha indicates that none
of the vessels listed in Reftels are Taiwan-flagged, but did
provide information on one of the vessels, which did visit
one of Taiwan's ports. The VICTORIA JAYA 2 is registered in
Indonesia and has a Taiwanese-national master. Mr. Sha
requests that AIT provide any additional information it may
have with respect to the VICTORIA JAYA 2 to assist Taiwan in
its investigation of the alleged violation of the master of
vessel. Para. 2 contains the verbatim text of Deputy
Director-General Sha's October 18 facsimile. Additional
documentation on the VICTORIA JAYA 2 will be transmitted to
OES/OMC Tom King via facsimile.


2. Begin verbatim text.

Thank you for your fax dated on 8 October 2004, regarding
the reported high seas driftnet fishing activity in the
North Pacific Ocean. After checking the fishing management
system maintained by this Agency, we have not found any
information on the vessels as listed on your fax message.
In other words, none of them is flagged ROC's flag.

However, there are some informations I can share with you
that we have found VICTORIA JAYA 2 entered Kaohsiung harbor,
Taiwan on 20 March 2004 and departed on 6 April 2004. The
related authority had checked the vessel before she left the
port, and no driftnet gear or equipment were found.
According to the documents provided by the agent, as
attached, the nationality, fishing gear, and registered port
of the vessel are Indonesia, bottom longoine, and Sorong,
respectively. Please find the relevant information of the
vessel as attached for your reference. [to be faxed to
OES/OMC]

When the vessel departed Kaohsiung harbor, the master was
identified as a national of Taiwan. It would be appreciated
if you could provide any specific evidence that indicated
the vessel was engaged in high seas driftnet fishing
activities. The investigation will be conducted in
consistent with our domestic law to pursue the alleged
violation of the master.

As you mentioned in your letter that AIT need further
information on any vessel operating in the same area during
April - October, so far Fisheries Agency has not permitted
any driftnet vessel to operate in the said area, only eight
squid-jigging vessels were permitted to fish in the North
Pacific Ocean. The operating location is between N42-43 and
E170-175. Please find the attached information of these
vessels as well.

It would be very helpful for deterring the illegal
activities of driftnet fishing by keeping exchange
information regionally as before. Looking forward to your
upcoming information.

End verbatim text.

PAAL