●The Historic Process of Hsin-Kang Mahi Mahi FIP

The Hsin-Kang Fishermen Association decided to initiate the mahi mahi FIP by the end of 2014, and invited the Overseas Fisheries Development Council(OFDC) to assist to evaluate and coordinate this project. Two explanation sessions for the mahi mahi FIP were held in February and June 2015 respectively, with the participation of representatives from the government, research institute, service wholesaler, processing plant, trade agent, local fishermen, and other stakeholders.

●Participants of Hsin-Kang Mahi Mahi FIP

Current member of Steering Committee:

- Fisheries Agency of Taiwan
- The Government of Taitung County
- The Government of Yilan County
- The Government of Pingtung County
- Eastern Marine Biology Research Center of Fisheries Research Institute, COA.
- Professor Wang Sheng-Pin of the National Taiwan Ocean University and his research team
- Dong-Gang Fishermen Association
- Hsin-Kang Fishermen Association
- Su-Ao Fishermen Association
- Ammon International Inc. (seafood exporter)
- Hsien-Pin Frozen Foods CO., LTD (processing plant)
- HOCHICO MARINE PROCESSING CORP.
- I-Mei Frozen Foods CO., LTD
- JIN TZER MARINE PRODUCTS CO.,LTD

‧Other participants:

- Hai Gwuan Co.,LTD
- Taiwan Ocean Conservation and Fisheries Sustainability Foundation

●The Objectives of the FIP

‧Building partnership and establishing working group for FIP Stakeholder Meeting
‧Completion of the Pre-Assessment for Hsin-Kang mahi mahi fishery
‧Adoption of FIP Action Plan
‧Studies on stock structure and stock status for mahi mahi in the waters of Taiwan

●Current Progress

‧The Second Steering Committee meeting of 2024 was held on 18 December 2024, and the Committee agreed to amend its logbook after years of implementation. The Committee welcomed the admission of Taiwan Ocean Conservation and Fisheries Sustainability Foundation. With the Foundation joining the FIP, it is expected that they can provide assistance to fishing vessel owners and operators in relation to ETP data collection. The Committee decided to convene a meeting in February 2025 to discuss the inclusion of compliance mechanism in its Self-Discipline Convention.
   
‧The first Steering Committee meeting of 2024 was held on 18th July, where the submissions of fishing logbook and landing declaration and the dispatch of observer in 2023 and January to June of 2024 were reviewed. Also, the progress on the establishment of the Taiwan Mah-mahi Fishery Association was shared. Regarding the working hour recording mechanism, the Committee decided to use the templates currently available, instead of developing a new one.
  ‧An extraordinary Steering Committee meeting was convened on 25 April where the Committee discussed the environmental workplan proposed by the commissioned consultant. Also, the progress on the establishment of the Taiwan Mah-mahi Fishery Association was shared among the Committee.
‧The Second Steering Committee meeting of 2023 was held on December 28th. A Social Workplan that was drafted by this Council to address the red indicators in the FIP’s Social Risk Assessment was adopted by the Committee and would be submitted to FIP in January 2024. The Committee agreed to have many processing plants to join this FIP, and therefore the ToR for Steering Committee would be revised accordingly. Additionally, an update on establishing the Taiwan Mahi-mahi Fishery Association was shared during the meeting.
‧Taiwan Hsin-Kang mahi mahi longline FIP is transitioning its type to comprehensive as of December 14th 2023. It is expected to be completed within 6 months.
‧An extraordinary Steering Committee meeting of 2023 was held on October 26th, in which the Committee decided to commission qualified consultant to conduct fishery assessment, so that the type of FIP can be elevated from basic to comprehensive. In addition, to complement mahi-mahi fishery management system, the decision to establish a nation-wide corporation aggregate was made.
‧The first Steering Committee meeting of 2023 was held on July 17. The Committee reviewed all three fishermen’s associations’ respective performances on the submissions of fishing logbook and landing declaration and the dispatch of observer, and it was agreed that these should be reviewed at each meeting in the future. To make captains and fishers better understand the FIP’s grievance mechanism, the Guidelines and relevant documents would be provided by the Steering Committee. Additionally, it was agreed that measurement tools would be manufactured and distributed by the coming November so that the requirements regarding the catch length set forth in the Self-Discipline Convention could be followed easily.
   
‧Progress made from 2016 to 2022

●Future Works

Mid-term goals:

‧To convene annual FIP Review Meetings to review the progress, and if necessary, to amend the FIP Action Plan.
‧To implement the FIP according to the Action Plan.
‧To track and report on progress of FIP periodically (every quarter or half year), including actions taken and the possible effects to the fishery resources.
‧To complete the objectives set out by the Action Plan within the designated timeframe.

Long-term goals:

‧To make Hsin-Kang mahi mahi fishery meet the requirements of the Sustainable
  Fisheries.
‧To use the basis of the best available scientific information to develop the
  precautionary approach and Harvest Control Rules.