Taiwan was invited by the Holy See of Vatican City to attend the XXV World Congress of the Stella Maris and the Centenary Celebration, which was held in Glasgow, United Kingdom, from October 2 to 5, 2022. On behalf of Taiwan, the Fisheries Agency attended in this event and shared Taiwan’s latest policies and progress in improving the rights and benefits of migrant fishermen to the clergies and participants from 53 countries. The participants appreciated how difficult it was for Taiwan to make efforts on improving fishery human rights and looked forward to more positive outcome in the future.

Taiwan's measures to improve the rights and benefits of migrant fishermen are affirmed by the Stella Maris

　　Father Bruno Ciceri, who is the International Director of the Apostleship of the Sea at the Holy See’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and is in charge of global seafarer and fisher, said that he had been posted in Taiwan for 12 years, and he recognized Taiwan is a country that values human rights, freedom and democracy. He stressed that Taiwan was invited to this World Congress because Taiwan strongly supports and promotes fishery human rights, and he believed Taiwan can be a good example and also shared its positive energy with the world.

Taiwan's promotion of fishery human rights can serve as an international reference

　　Mr. Yihsien Chiu, the Section Chief of Fisheries Agency, participated in this event as the representative of Taiwan said that Taiwan's determination to improve fisheries and human rights is in line with the Holy See and the Stella Maris 100-year continuous care for seafarers and fishermen. He emphasized in his briefing that Taiwan's position is to further improve the existing foundation. The approach is pragmatic and consensus-based through joint implementation with the industry, and the various ministries and councils of the Executive Yuan will cooperate to implement measures to take care of the rights and benefits of migrant fishermen with the strength of the country. In his conclusion, Mr. Chiu reiterated that Taiwan will redouble its efforts to support fishery human rights and collaborate with the world to improve the human rights of migrant fishermen in Taiwanese distant-water fleets.

　　　　Contact Person: Mr. Kuo-Ping Lin, Deputy Director-General of the Fisheries Agency of Taiwan

　　　　E-mail: kuoping@ms1.fa.gov.tw

Photo of Director Chia-change Chang (left) of the Edinburgh Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Father Bruno Ciceri (middle) of the Holy See of the Vatican and Section Chef Yihsien Chiu

Photo of Jason Zudema (left), Secretary General of the International Christian Maritime Association, and Section Chef Yihsien Chiu

Photo of Apinya Tajit (left), winner of the U.S. 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report Hero Award, and Section Chief Yihsien Chiu