Taipei: A Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-nominated candidate for the Magong City Council was among six individuals caught illegally harvesting sea urchins in outlying Penghu County on Tuesday, the day before the fishing season opened.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Penghu District Prosecutors Office reported that the six suspects, including a man surnamed Hsiang, were apprehended Tuesday evening for harvesting sea urchins prior to the expiration of the annual ban on July 1. The suspects reportedly used a private boat to travel to waters near uninhabited Jinyu Island in Baisha Township, where they were detected by drones operated by a joint enforcement task force aimed at curbing illegal fishing activities.
Authorities confiscated 154 sea urchins and escorted the boat along with its occupants back to Magong's Anshan Fishing Harbor for further investigation. After questioning, the prosecutors released the six individuals on bail ranging from NT$30,000 (US$1,020) to NT$60,000, under suspicion of violating the Fisheries Act.
The DPP's Penghu chapter confirmed that Hsiang had been nominated as a candidate for the Magong City Council. The party expressed regret over the incident and the adverse public perception it had generated. The ruling party further stated its full support for the ongoing judicial investigation and emphasized its commitment to uphold legal responsibility, promising to address the matter in accordance with its party charter.
In Penghu, the harvesting of wild sea urchins is prohibited from September through June to ensure the species' protection. Harvesting and sales are permitted only during July and August, and exclusively for sea urchins with a shell diameter of at least 8 centimeters. Under the Fisheries Act, individuals convicted of illegally harvesting, processing, selling, or possessing undersized sea urchins during the closed season risk up to three years in prison, detention, and a fine of up to NT$150,000, or a combination of those penalties.