Article 1


These Regulations are established in accordance with Article 7 and Article 8, paragraph 3 of the Fisheries Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act).


Article 2


The permissions of the building, modification, chartering and importation of fishing vessels and fishery types to be engaged in, and the issuance of fishing licenses shall be conducted pursuant to these Regulations. Notwithstanding this provision, provisions as stipulated in the Regulations for Recreational Fishery and the Rules for the Registry of Fishing Right shall be applied first.


Article 3


The definitions of terms used in these Regulations are as the follows:
(1) “ Fishing license ” means the fishing license or fishery certificate.
(2) “ Fishery type ” means the main fishery registered on the fishing license, excluding the part-time fishery.
(3) “ Loss of a fishing vessel ” means a fishing vessel that has been scrapped, sunk, stranded, damaged or missing. In the event that a fishing vessel is detained, confiscated or forfeited by a foreign government for violating laws or regulations of that government, and the nationality certificate of such vessel is revoked, it shall be regarded as loss of a fishing vessel.
(4) “ Replacement qualification ” means any of the following qualifications:
i. The fishery operator whose fishing license is submitted and revoked after the loss of his/her fishing vessel is granted the qualification to build a new fishing vessel of the same tonnage to replace the original one and continue to engage in the same fishery type;
ii. After replacing a tuna purse seine fishing vessel of the same size level registered in a regional fisheries management organization, the fishery operator is authorized and granted by the central competent authority the qualification to build, export and continue to engage in the tuna purse seine fishery.
iii. The fishery operator of Matzu and Kinmen who obtains the qualification to engage in the same fishery type after his/her fishing vessel is authorized by the competent authority before 30 June 2006 to change into a cargo vessel.
(5) “ Replacement tonnage ” means the tonnage granted to the fishery operator whose fishing vessel has been granted the replacement qualification.
(6) “ Fishing vessel tonnage ” means the gross tonnage measured by the navigation authority pursuant to the Regulations for Measurement of Ships. In the case that a fishing vessel was measured before the promulgation of the amendment of the Regulations for Measurement of Ships on 16 July 1982 under Order No.Jiao-Hang (71) 1584, the tonnage of such fishing vessel shall be added by 30%.
(7) “ Length overall ” means the distance measured in a straight line between the foremost point of the bow and the aftermost point of stern.


Article 4


Any fishery operator that meets any of the following requirements may apply for the issuance of fishing license:
(1) The fishery operator has acquired a fishing vessel newly builtwith the replacement qualification to engage in fisheries;
(2) The fishery operator is authorized to engage in fisheries with a newly-built fish carrier over 2 thousand tons;
(3) The fishery operator engages in fisheries with an imported fishing vessel that is permitted by the central competent authority;
(4) The fishery operator engages in fisheries with an assumed or chartered fishing vessel;
(5) The fishery operator is authorized to change the fishery type to be engaged in with the existing fishing vessel;
(6) The fishery operator whose fishing vessel is authorized to specialize in fisheries training, research and patrolling;
(7) The fishery operator who obtains the replacement qualification pursuant to these Regulations engages in fisheries with the acquisition of a fishing vessel whose fishing license has been revoked by the central competent authority, instead of building a new fishing vessel.
The fishery operator as referred to in subparagraph (7) of the preceding paragraph shall not be the one upon whom the revocation of fishing licenses was originally imposed, and the reason for the revocation of the fishing license of the fishing vessel that the fishery operator acquires shall not be any of the following:
(1) The fishing vessel has engaged in firearms, drugs or human trafficking or high seas driftnet fishing;
(2) The fishing vessel has committed any violation during fishing activities, and has been listed as a illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) vessel by any international fisheries organization.


Article 5


Application for the renewal of the existing fishing license for the expiration of its validation shall be made three months before the expiration. Notwithstanding such provision, any of the following circumstances shall be exempted:
(1) The prior application for postponement of the renewal of the fishing license has been permitted by the competent authority, and as such, the renewal may be applied before the date approved by the competent authority;
(2) The fishery operator who has been authorized by the competent authority the suspension of the operation may apply for renewal of the fishing license before the resumption of the operation.
Failure to apply for renewal of the fishing license before the expiration shall be subject to punishment by the competent authority pursuant to the Act.


Article 6


Any fishery operator who has assumed a fishing vessel from others shall apply for the fishing license within one month after the navigation authority completes the change of vessel ownership.


Article 7


In case that there is any change to the contents that shall be recorded on the fishing license, application for the recording of such change shall be made within one month after the occurrence of such change, together with enclosure of certifying document(s).
In case of the change of the fishery operator, fishing vessel name or fishery type, application for re-issuing of fishing license shall be made.


Article 8


In case of loss of a fishing vessel, the fishery operator shall apply for revocation of the fishing license with enclosure of certifying documents, documents certifying the cancellation of vessel registration issued by the navigation authority and the original fishing license.
The competent authority shall cancel the fishing license in case of the forfeiture, confiscation or export of the fishing vessel.


Article 9


In case that a fishery operator who does not build a new fishing vessel after having been granted with the replacement qualification, such fishery operator may apply, with other existing fishing vessel(s), for the change of fishery type to the same as the replacement qualification granted.
In case that an existing fishing vessel has changed its fishery type with replacement qualification as referred to in the preceding paragraph, its fishery operator may apply for the replacement qualification of the original fishery type of such fishing vessel.


Article 10


In case of any of the following circumstances, the fishery operator may directly apply for the change of fishery type:
(1) Any fishing vessel of coral fishery, shellfish fishery, fishery using submarine device(s) changes to engage in the fishery type except for the trawl fishery.
(2) Any fishing vessel of bull trawl fishery changes to engage in the otter trawl fishery.


Article 11


Where the change of fishery type has been approved, application for the change of fishery type shall not be made again within two years.
The change of fishery type of any imported fishing vessel shall not be applied. Notwithstanding this provision, for the fishing vessel imported pursuant to subparagraph (3) of Article 27, paragraph 1, provisions of the preceding two articles may be applied.


Article 12


Provisions for the interchange or part-time operation of fishing vessels of directed fisheries, recreational fishery and fishing right fishery are as the followings:
(1) Except for part-time fishing right fishery, any fishing vessel of directed fishery may apply for change of or part-time operation of other fishery types. Notwithstanding this provision, mackerel purse seine fishing vessels and fish carriers shall not apply for engaging in other fishery types.
(2) Fishing vessels of full-time recreational fishery shall not apply for change of or part-time operation of other fishery types. Notwithstanding this provision, for a fishing vessel whose age is 3 years and above and which has be authorized by the competent authority for modification, the application for engaging in directed fisheries may be made.
(3) Fishing vessels of fishing right fishery may apply for the change of fishery types, but shall not part-time operate other fishery types.
In case that fishing vessels of full-time recreational fishery apply for the change to directed fisheries, the change of fishery types shall be limited to pole and line boote fishery, troll line fishery, longline fishery, spear fishery and other fishery types approved and promulgated by the central competent authority.
In case that fishing vessels of fishing right fishery apply for change to directed fisheries, coral fishery, shellfish fishery, fishery using submarine device, or other fisheries types prohibited and promulgated by the central competent authority shall not be engaged in.


Article 13


Fishing vessels of directed fisheries, full-time recreational fishery and fishing right fishery may be replaced among one another.
In case that any fishing vessel of full time recreational fishery or of fishing right fishery is replaced to be engaged in directed fishery, coral fishery, shellfish fishery, fishery using submarine device, trawl fishery, or any other fishery types prohibited and promulgated by the central competent authority shall not be engaged in.


Article 14


In case that any fishery operator applies for the building of a new fishing vessel with the replacement qualification of more than one fishing vessel of the same fishery type, and the replacement tonnage is less than that of the newly-built fishing vessel, the shortfall shall be complemented, except that the shortfall is less than one tonnage.
Where the replacement tonnage is more than the tonnage of the newly-built fishing vessel by one tonnage and above, the surplus replacement tonnage shall be reserved for one year starting from the date of approval of reservation. The fishery type of the reserved surplus replacement tonnage shall be the same as that of the newly-built fishing vessel, and the reserved surplus replacement tonnage shall be used only to complement the shortfallof the replacement tonnage of other fishing vessel(s), but not to build a new fishing vessel.
Where the replacement tonnage to be complemented in accordance with paragraph 1 is complemented by the surplus replacement tonnage of other fishery types reserved pursuant to the preceding paragraph or by the tonnage from other fishery types except for mackerel purse seine fishing vessels and fish carrier vessels, the replacement tonnage complemented shall not exceed 5% of the tonnage of the newly-built fishing vessel. In case of a newly-built squid jigging vessel whose replacement tonnage is complemented by a longline vessel or trawler, the replacement tonnage complemented shall not exceed 49% of the tonnage of the newly-built fishing vessel.
Where a fishery operator applies with the replacement qualification for the change of the fishery type of the existing fishing vessel in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 1, and the replacement tonnage is less or more than the tonnage of the existing fishing vessel, the provisions stipulated in paragraph 1 to the preceding paragraph shall, mutatis mutandis, be applied.
In case that a fishery operator builds a fish carrier vessel or a mackerel purse seine fishing vessel, the tonnage of the vessel shall not be less than that of the existing fishing vessel. The replacement tonnage of these vessels shall not be used by fishing vessel(s) of other fishery types for the replacement or complement, and the surplus replacement tonnage shall not be reserved.
Where a fishery operator applies for import of a fishing vessel of new fishing method, the provisions stipulated in paragraph 1 to 3, Article 15 and Article 16 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the replacement qualification and replacement tonnage. Notwithstanding such provision, in case that fishing vessel of the same fishery type or full time recreational fishing vessel is not available domestically, the required replacement tonnage for the fishing vessel to be imported shall be of other fishery types except for those of mackerel purse seine fishing vessels and fish carrier vessels.
For longline or tuna purse seine fishing vessels over 20 gross tonnage with the age of more than 25 years, the replacement tonnage shall be 74% of the original fishing vessel tonnage.
In case that a fishery operator acquires a fishing vessel in accordance with Article 4, subparagraph (7), the provisions stipulated in paragraph 1 to 3, Article 15 and 16 for complementing replacement tonnage shall be mutatis mutandis applied.


Article 15


Where a fishery operator builds a fishing vessel or applies for changing of fishery type with replacement qualification pursuant to Article 9, paragraph 1, the following provisions shall apply:
(1) For fishing vessel whose length overall is 24 meters and above, the fishery operator shall acquire the replacement tonnage from at least one fishing vessel with the length overall of 24 meters and above and the gross tonnage of 100 tons and above of the same fishery type. In case of building a new fishing vessel, the gross tonnage of newly-built vessel shall not be less than 100 tons.
(2) For fishing vessel whose length overall is 15 meters and above but less than 24 meters, the fishery operator shall acquire the replacement tonnage from at least one fishing vessel with the length overall of 15 meters and above but less than 24 meters and the gross tonnage of 20 tons and above of the same fishery type, or from fishing vessel with length overall of 24 meters and above and the gross tonnage less than 100 tons of the same fishery type. In case of building a new fishing vessel, the gross tonnage of newly-built vessel shall be no less than 20 tons and no more than 100 tons.
(3) For fishing vessel whose length overall is less than 15 meters, the fishery operator shall acquire the replacement tonnage from at least one fishing vessel with the length overall less than 15 meters of the same fishery type, or from fishing vessel with the length overall of 15 meters and above and the gross tonnage less than 20 tons of the same fishery type. In case of building a new fishing vessel, the gross tonnage of newly-built vessel shall be no more than 20 tons.
In case that any fishery operator acquires the replacement qualification from one fishing vessel of the same level of length overall and gross tonnage to build a fishing vessel or change the fishery type pursuant to the preceding paragraph, and 95% of the replacement tonnage of the same fishery type is not reached, the replacement tonnage shall be complemented by the replacement qualification or surplus replacement tonnage of the same level of length overall and gross tonnage of the same fishery type pursuant to the provisions of each subparagraph in the preceding paragraph.
Any Fishing vessel with gross tonnage less than 5 tons may be used only for the replacement of fishing vessel less than 5 tons, and shall not be used for the replacement or complementary tonnage of fishing vessel of 5 tons and above.


Article 15-1


Where a fishery operator acquires the replacement qualification of a fishing vessel whose length overall is 15 meters and above and whose gross tonnage is less than 20 tons, and applies for building before 22 March 2008, he/she may build the fishing vessel of the same fishery type with the length overall of 15 meters and above and the gross tonnage less than 20 tons. The length overall of the newly-built fishing vessel shall be no more than 20 meters.


Article 15-2


For any fishery operator that builds a tuna purse seine vessel for operation in the western and central Pacific Ocean, sizes of fishing vessels are classified as the following levels:
(1) Level 1: length overall of 80 meters and above, with the gross tonnage of 2,000 tons and above.
(2) Level 2: length overall of 50 meters and above but less than 80 meters, with the gross tonnage of 700 tons and above but less than 2,000 tons.
(3) Level 3: length overall less than 50 meters, with the gross tonnage of 200 tons and above but less than 700 tons.
(4) Level 4: length overall less than 50 meters, with the gross tonnage less than 200 tons.
Any fishery operator that builds any fishing vessel classified in the preceding paragraph shall acquire replacement qualification of a tuna purse seine vessel of the same level. In case that the replacement tonnage is less than the tonnage of the newly-built fishing vessel, the provisions for complementing and reserving the surplus replacement tonnage provided in paragraph 1 to 3 and paragraph 8 of Article 14 and paragraph 2 of Article 15 shall not apply.
Any tuna purse seine vessel of any size level shall be replaced for building into one single vessel, and shall not be divided for replacement and building of several fishing vessels. Tuna purse seine vessels of a smaller size level shall not be combined together for the replacement and building of a tuna purse seine vessel of a larger size level.
The replacement tonnage of any tuna purse seine vessel built pursuant to paragraph 1 shall be the same as that of the fishing vessel to be replaced, and the overall fish hold capacity after the completion of building shall not exceed that of the fishing vessel to be replaced.


Article 15-3


The gross tonnage of a newly built squid jigging vessel shall not exceed 1,500 tons.


Article 16


Starting from 1 July 2007, longline fishing vessels operating in the convention areas of relevant regional fisheries management organizations in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean shall not be replaced by any fishing vessel on the vessel list of other regional fisheries management organization.


Article 17


Where the approved modification of a fishing vessel results in the increase of the gross tonnage, the provisions stipulated in Article 14 and 15 shall be, mutatis mutandis, applied to the replacement tonnage to be complemented, except when the tonnage increased is less than one.
Any fishing vessel under 100 gross tonnage shall not be more than 100 gross tonnage after modification.


Article 18


Application for the replacement qualification shall be accompanied by the following documents:
(1) The original fishing license;
(2) The document certifying the cancellation of the Certificate of Registry for the fishing vessel to be replaced.
(3) The document certifying the loss of the fishing vessel, or documents certifying the exportation of the tuna purse seine fishing vessel approved on a case-by-case basis.
(4) The document certifying cancellation of fuel allocation handbook.
(5) For fishing vessels in Matzu and Kinmen authorized to be changed into cargo vessels pursuant to subparagraph (4) of Article 3, relevant certificates issued by the navigation authority are required.
(6) Any other documents or information as specified.
A fishery operator whose fishing license has been cancelled pursuant to Article 8, paragraph 1, is not required to submit the documents as referred to in subparagraph (1) to (3) of the preceding paragraph when applying for the replacement qualification.


Article 19


The replacement qualification is valid for 3 years from the date of the loss of the fishing vessel.
In case that a fishing vessel is detained by a foreign government, and the competent authority has completed the punishment imposed upon the vessel or has decided remission of the punishment, or any court decision has not been received after the vessel is detained for two years, the replacement qualification shall be valid for 3 years from the date that the vessel owner completes the cancellation of the Certificate of Registry from the navigation authority.
The replacement qualification permitted in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 2 shall be valid for 3 years from the date of the approval.


Article 20


In case of any of the following circumstances, no application forthe replacement qualification shall be allowed:
(1) The fishing vessel has not been lost.
(2) Any circumstances as referred to in Article 7-1 of the Act, where application of fishing license has been refused.
(3) At the time of the application for scrapping of the fishing vessel, the validity of the fishing license or the duration of approved suspension of fishery operation has been expired.
(4) Any imported fishing vessel of new fishing method which has not obtained the replacement qualification after the promulgation of vessel building restriction by the central competent authority on 17 November 1989.
(5) Where a fishing vessel has been stranded and its owner has not addressed properly, causing risks in navigation, or pollution of marine environment.
(6) Where the fishing vessel is detained, forfeited, or confiscated by a foreign government and its owner has not addressed the crew repatriation and other related matters properly.
(7) Where the fishing vessel has encountered accident abroad and its owner has unpaid expenses that are paid in advance by relevant government authorities.


Article 21


In the event that an existing fishing vessel is scheduled to be scrapped, the application for building of a new fishing vessel may be made first. Notwithstanding such provision, the existing fishing vessel shall be scrapped completely and its original fishing license shall be cancelled before the application for issuing the fishing license of the new vessel.


Article 22


Main fisheries such as trawl fishery, longline fishery, squid jigging fishery, tuna purse seine fishery and mackerel purse seine fishery shall not be registered as part-time fishery. Where such fishery has been approved as part-time fishery, at the time of application for re-issuing or renewal of the fishing license, the fishery operator may apply for changing such part-time fishery to main fishery. Where such application is not made, the competent authority shall cancel such part-time fishery.


Article 23


No new fishing license shall be issued to a fishing vessel of coral fishery, shellfish fishery, and fishery using submarine device, except for the renewal of fishing license upon expiry.
Fishing vessels identified by the central competent authority as equipped with coral harvesting device before 31 December 2007 may operate part-time coral fishery in accordance with the regulations stipulated by the central competent authority starting from these Regulations amended and effective on 22 May 2008.
In case that the fishery operator applies for the replacement qualification for the fishery types stipulated in paragraph 1, the fishery operator shall change such fishery type to other fishery type.


Article 24


No restriction shall be made on the fishery type of fishing vessels less than 5 gross tonnage, except for the operation of the fishery such as coral fishery, shellfish fishery, fishery using submarine device and trawl fishery, which shall be operated in accordance with the relevant provisions of these Regulations.


Article 25


Registration of the main fishery on the fishing license shall be limited to one type only and registration of part-time fishery shall be limited to three types.


Article 26


Fishing vessel approved to be built shall complete the building and apply for fishing license within two years after the approval. In case that the completion of the building is past the timeframe, the approval shall be deemed as invalid. Application for one-year extension of the building approval may be made before the expiry of the two-year validity of the original approval, provided that the construction of vessel hull has been completed and the main equipment, such as the main and auxiliary engines, has been purchased.


Article 27


No fishing vessel shall be imported from foreign countries, except for any of the following circumstances:
(1) A fishing vessel of new fishing method as reviewed and approved by the central competent authority, with the age of the vessel less than10 years starting from the date of launch to the date of application.
(2) A newly-built fishing vessel of full time recreational fishery.
(3) A fishing vessel approved by the central competent authority to engage in foreign fishery cooperation and thus registered in that country has terminated its fishery cooperation; or a fishing vessel exported and registered in a foreign country on a case-by-case basis resumes its registration in the Republic of China.
(4) A tuna purse seine fishing vessel approved by the central competent authority to be exported to the small island developing States in the western and central Pacific Ocean resumes its registration in the Republic of China.
(5) A fishing vessel which complies with the provisions of Article 29.
For the application for the import of the fishing vessel referred to in subparagraph (1) of the preceding paragraph, the applicant shall first obtain the replacement qualification.
For the application for the import of the fishing vessel referred to in subparagraph (2) of paragraph 1, the applicant shall first obtain the replacement qualification and the approval from the municipal or county (city) competent authority where such vessel intends to register, and submit to the central competent authority for final approval.


Article 28


[Deleted]


Article 29


From 1 January 2003 to 21 March 2007 when these amended Regulations are effective, for any foreign flag squid jigging fishing vessel over 100 gross tonnage built in Taiwan and exported and operated by the national of the Republic of the China, the application for import may be made after acquiring enough replacement tonnage pursuant to Article 14.
The review procedures for relevant documents for squid jigging fishing vessels imported pursuant to the preceding paragraph are subject to promulgation of the central competent authority.


Article 30


In case that the fishing license is lost or defaced, the fishery operator shall apply to the original issuing authority for the reissuance or renewal with relevant certifying documents.


Article 31


For the issuance, renewal or reissuance of the fishing license, the license fee as shown in the attached table shall be paid pursuant to Article 7 of the Act.

Attached Table：Attached Table standards for the license fee.DOC


Article 32


Rules for the fishery type, replacement and modification of sampans and fishing rafts may be established by the central or municipal competent authority. The coral fishery, shellfish fishery, fishery using submarine devices and trawl fishery shall not be operated by sampans and fishing rafts.


Article 33


These Regulations shall enter into force from the date of promulgation.