1. Agricultural losses from cold spell top NT$17.58 million

According to the Council of Agriculture, the cold spell that has gripped Taiwan over the last few days has caused an estimated NT$17.58 million in agricultural losses. Wax apple growers in Pingtung County were the only group affected, experiencing losses that covered 27 hectares, the COA said on December 20^th. But the wax apple supply is likely to remain normal for the time being, the COA said, adding that Taiwan grows about 3,000 hectares of wax apples, with 80 percent of them in Pingtung. The peak selling season of the fruit will last between now and mid-January,

2. Fisheries Agency appeals to the public for protection of Taiwan’s eels resources 

Authorities at Kaohsiung airport recently seized over 60,000 live young eels that 2 Taiwanese travelers were attempting to smuggle out of the country. The Fisheries Agency reiterated that since 2007, export of the eels has been banned during the harvest season -- Nov. 1 to March 31 the following year -- to protect Taiwan's fishery resources amid declining stocks. Following the confiscation of the 60,000 eels, the case has been handed over to the Fisheries Agency for further investigation.