SEAFOOD.COM NEWS [BBC Monitoring via COMTEX] - October 6, 2008 - Taipei, The Fisheries Agency under the Council of Agriculture has dispatched a patrol vessel manned by Coast Guard Administration (CGA) officers to monitor Taiwanese fishing vessels operating on the high seas in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, an agency official said Monday.

The vessel, Hsunhu No 1, carries one agency observer and 10 CGA officers on its 89-day mission, the official said.

In addition to maintaining order among Taiwanese vessels, the vessel will also conduct onboard inspections and send the agency's observer to other designated vessels for scientific observation, the official said.

The dispatch of the vessel is in accordance with management measures of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, of which Taiwan is a member.

Taiwan's responsibility as a member of the international organization is to promote the deployment of monitoring systems on fishing boats, establish a rapid reporting system, and send observers and patrol vessel for observation and inspections, the official said.

The dispatch of the patrol vessel signifies Taiwan's determination to achieve good management in deep-sea fishing, the official added.

BBC Monitoring. Copyright BBC.