Penghu's Fisheries and Tourism: Key Pillars, Zhou Ni-an Urges to Expand the Pie

According to Central News Agency's report from Penghu County on the 11th, Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Chairperson Zhou Ni-an and Chairman Wang Chun-yung of the Penghu Coastal Fisheries Development Association held a press conference in Magong today, emphasizing that fisheries are one of Penghu's economic lifelines. They urged that efforts should focus on expanding the overall economic pie, rather than allowing locals to compete over an increasingly shrinking share.

Wang Chun-yung pointed out that fisheries and tourism are Penghu's two major economic pillars. However, recent amendments by the Fisheries Agency stipulate that longline fishing vessels engaging in net fishing—activities inconsistent with their registered fishing methods—will be prohibited from going to sea. Combined with dwindling fishery resources, rising labor costs, and illegal trawling by Chinese fishing boats crossing into restricted waters, local fisheries are under severe pressure. He appealed to the central government to fully consider Penghu’s unique circumstances when revising relevant laws.

Zhou Ni-an proposed a 'dual-track strategy' integrating fisheries and tourism. She advocated for stronger maritime patrol and advanced technological monitoring to protect Penghu’s fishing grounds and ensure the rights of law-abiding fishermen. To reduce labor costs in the fishing industry, she suggested decoupling local and foreign workers’ wage structures and establishing a replacement mechanism and risk-sharing system for foreign labor turnover.

Additionally, she emphasized the need for separate management of commercial and recreational fisheries, and stressed the importance of effectively attracting tourists to Penghu. Zhou warned that policy-making must not result in law-abiding Taiwanese citizens bearing the full burden of economic and regulatory costs.