Profiling Taiwanese Distant Water Vessel Owners - a missing link for a more ethical fishing supply chain

Key Insights into Taiwan's Distant Water Fishing Industry

Our report highlights significant findings about Taiwan's distant water fishing industry. Vessel owners display a wide range of profiles influenced by company size, operational strategies, and historical developments. They face numerous challenges, including cost pressures, complex recruitment processes, volatile pricing, and power imbalances with private sector actors.

Notably, recent years have seen positive changes, with many vessel owners improving onboard practices, such as providing Wi-Fi for fishers and aligning with C188 standards. Addressing these challenges and building on these advancements are critical steps toward fostering a more sustainable and ethical fishing industry.

These insights aim to guide informed decision-making and drive reforms to create a fairer and more responsible fishing sector.

We extend our gratitude to Humanity United and The Freedom Fund for their generous support of this project, as well as to the vessel owners and all stakeholders who contributed to this research.

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