TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Coast Guard Administration (CGA) ship left Kaohsiung Friday (June 16) on a two-month journey around the Pacific.
The Hsun Hu No. 9 patrol vessel will inspect fishing trawlers in international waters. Its specific mission is to catch instances of illegal fishing in the west and central Pacific, per CNA.
The patrol ship is expected to arrive back in Taiwan on Aug. 14, 60 days after its departure from Kaohsiung Port. Special measures were taken to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19 during the journey, according to CGA officials.
The crew will also look out for ships in trouble and provide the necessary assistance. Taiwan will thus fulfill its international obligations as a member of the global community, the CGA said.
Officials said the ship would adjust its course based upon weather conditions and according to operations of fishing vessels being monitored by the Hsun Hu No. 9. The mission shows that the government is concerned about the wellbeing of the fishermen, but also about protecting the ocean and its natural resources, the CGA said.
