August 12, 2010

Taiwan's grouper industry has mostly recovered from the damage caused by Typhoon Morakot last August, with an average of 80% of grouper aquaculture farms back in operations, the Fisheries Agency said.

In order to help the industry to get back up and running, the government has approved a total of TWD2.1 billion (US$66.3 million) in loans to farmers raising grouper, mainly in Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties in southern Taiwan.

The maximum amount of loans for grouper farms has been raised to TWD5 million (US$157,828) from TWD1 million (US$31,566) per hectare, with loans for farmers raising giant grouper raised to TWD8 million (US$251,810), according to the agency.

Typhoon Morakot devastated southern Taiwan's agriculture and aquaculture sectors a year ago, causing more than TWD1.7 billion (US$252,525) in damage to fisheries alone, nearly 60% of which occurred in Pingtung County.

The agency said it has spent TWD163 million (US$5.1 million) helping grouper farmers to clear the silt from their ponds, spread new soil, sanitise and improve water quality, and purchase grouper fry and probiotics.

The government also plans to provide half of the funds needed to build three ships designed for transporting live fish, to a maximum total of TWD45 million (US$1.4 million), the agency said.

Taiwanese grouper are included on an "early harvest" list of goods and services that will enjoy preferential tariff treatment under the landmark economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China that was signed in late June.