Cablegate: Taiwan Investigates Georgian Flagged High Seas

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS TAIPEI 003268

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC AND OES/OMC - TOM KING,
DOC FOR NOAA/NMFS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS KTIA AORC EWWT GG PHSA PREL SENV
SUBJECT: TAIWAN INVESTIGATES GEORGIAN FLAGGED HIGH SEAS
DRIFTNET VESSEL

REF: A) SECSTATE 217012 B) OES KING/ AIT THOMAS
10/19/04 EMAIL

In response to AIT's July 7, 2004 delivery of Reftel A
demarche, Tsay Tzu-yaw, Director of Taiwan Fisheries Deep
Seas Fisheries Division told AIT that the Taiwan Authorities
revoked Mr. Chen's (the vessel Master/Chief Engineer) fishing
permit in July and forwarded the case to the Kaohsiung
District Court for prosecution. AIT followed up on the case
on October 12 and further learned that the vessel's Georgian
registration expired on October 30, 2003. Taiwan Fisheries is
unaware if the registration was renewed and/or extended.
Taiwan Fisheries Agency (TFA) has requested any detailed
documents and materials that may have been obtained during
the Japanese boarding and inspection. TFA is particularly
interested in any documents that describe fishing activities
and/or that confirm Mr. Chen's involvement. TFA has
specifically requested copies of "licenses of Chun Jin No.1,
and certificates of these fishing crews." Regarding other
vessels operating in the same area during the April to
October time frame, TFA indicated that it only permitted
eight "squid-jigging fishing vessels" to operate between
N42-43 and E170-175 during that time frame.
PAAL

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