Green Party Nominee Accused of Illegal Sea Urchin Harvesting; Penghu County Party Chapter to Handle According to Regulations

(CNA Penghu, July 1) Prosecutors yesterday, on the eve of the opening of the sea urchin harvesting season in Penghu, apprehended six individuals suspected of illegal harvesting. Among them, a Mr. Xiang is a nominee for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the Magong City Council election. The Penghu County Chapter of the DPP expressed deep regret over the controversy involving an individual candidate's alleged illegal activities, which has created a poor public impression, and stated it will handle the matter in accordance with party regulations.

Wu Yi-ming, Chief Prosecutor of the Penghu District Prosecutors Office, in order to implement policies for the sustainable protection of marine resources and to safeguard the fair harvesting rights of law-abiding citizens, led a task force on June 30, the last day of the sea urchin closed season. The team, comprising Deputy Chief Prosecutor Chen Shu-yu, the Penghu County Government's Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Seventh Coastal Patrol Brigade, the Baisha Precinct, the Penghu District Fishermen's Association, and the Marine Conservation and Environmental Enforcement Agency of the Ocean Affairs Council, conducted aerial and maritime patrols using drones in the coastal areas of Baisha Township. They caught Mr. Xiang and five others at sea, illegally harvesting sea urchins.

Prosecutors investigated and found that Mr. Xiang and the other five individuals had gone out to sea in a private boat yesterday afternoon to illegally harvest sea urchins in the waters near Jinyu Island. They were spotted by a drone at 6:31 PM and apprehended with the evidence. A total of 154 sea urchins were seized. Under the escort of a fishermen's association patrol boat, they and their vessel were escorted back to Anshan Fishing Harbor in Magong and handed over to the Magong Precinct for investigation. After questioning by the prosecutor, Mr. Xiang and the other five individuals were each fined between NT$30,000 and NT$60,000 for violating the Fisheries Act.

Upon learning that the involved Mr. Xiang was a nominee for the Magong City Council supported by the party chapter, the DPP Penghu County Chapter stated that it deeply regrets the poor public impression caused by the controversy surrounding an individual candidate's alleged illegal activities. It fully supports the judicial investigation and will not shield anyone, and will handle the matter in accordance with the relevant provisions of the party charter.

To slow the depletion of wild sea urchin populations, the Penghu County Government has designated the period from September to June of the following year as a closed season. Harvesting and selling of sea urchins with a shell diameter of 8 centimeters or more is only permitted during July and August. During the closed season, any illegal harvesting, processing, selling, or possession of sea urchins not meeting the specified shell diameter is punishable under the Fisheries Act by up to three years of imprisonment, detention, or a fine of up to NT$150,000, or both. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150701

Stand with facts, your contribution is the power to protect press freedom

Download the CNA "First Hand News" APP to get the latest news in real-time

Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, or transmitted or used without authorization.