In an effort to maintain sustainable marine ecology and fishery resources, offshore fishing vessels are not allowed to catch certain spawning crabs during their breeding season from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31 in Taiwan.

Sale of those crabs is also prohibited during that period.

The ban came into effect on Monday following a revision of the Regulations on Capturing Crabs in Littoral and Coastal Areas by the Fisheries Agency (FA) in July, Penghu County’s Agriculture and Fisheries Bureau told CNA.

Offshore fishing vessels will not be allowed to bring to port five species of crabs carrying fertilized eggs, including the crucifix crab, three-spot swimming crab, flower crab, ridged swimming crab and red frog crab, the bureau said.

Any egg-carrying crab caught, dead or alive, should be released into the sea, it warned, noting that this measure must be observed even when the crabs are inadvertently caught.

Meanwhile, the Penghu bureau said fishermen are only allowed to fish the designated crabs if they are not carrying fertilized eggs, but even then must still meet certain sizes requirements based on the width of their carapace.

People or fishing vessels found in possession of egg-carrying crabs face fines of between NT$30,000 (US$1,000) and NT$150,000, including the revoking of their fishing license, the bureau added.

The same penalty applies to those caught selling egg-carrying crabs, it added.

Source : Focus Taiwan News Channel