Taiwan to develop fishing-ground forecasts

台灣將建立漁場預測系統

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will begin developing fishing-ground forecasts next year, UDN and CNA reported Tuesday.

The four-year project will draw on decades of Taiwan’s annual catch records. Fisheries Agency Director-General Wang Mao-cheng (王茂城) said Taiwan has some of the most comprehensive fishery catch data in the western and central Pacific.

The National Science and Technology Council will also contribute historical satellite imagery. The analysis will incorporate oceanographic information such as sea temperatures, ocean color, and seawater acidity.

By comparing the datasets, researchers aim to identify patterns in fish distribution and determine where fishing grounds are likely to form. The resulting forecasts will initially be provided to domestic fishing fleets.

The system is expected to help crews identify potential fishing grounds and reduce the time and effort needed to find productive areas at sea. Wang said the service could eventually be offered to international markets if the ocean-monitoring and fishing-ground data meet the requirements for commercial use.

Taiwan’s fishing industry generated about NT$96.5 billion (US$3.05 billion) in output last year. The broader industry chain was worth about NT$350 billion, Agriculture Minister Chen Chun-ji (陳駿季) said, underscoring the sector’s importance to Taiwan’s economy.

Other efforts are also underway to support the sector. Systematic surveys of marine areas and fishing grounds began this year to help crews locate fishing grounds in open waters more efficiently. Chen said international cooperation could further improve the accuracy and efficiency of the work, with potential partners including Australia and Pacific island countries.