A discussion of management disputes arising from the multiple utilization of flying fish resources in Taiwan and suggested countermeasures

Flying fish play a vital role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems. In Taiwan, flying fish resources are mainly utilized in three ways. The Tao aboriginal people regard them as an important, and spiritual, source of food and utilize the resource sparingly and cautiously. Conversely, in northern Taiwan, fisheries harvest flying fish roe, which may in the future lead to ecosystem damage. Thirdly, large quantities are caught for promoting seafood to tourists at various events. The latter two utilizations may cause overfishing and scarcity.In 2007, the Taiwanese government began to adjust fisheries management policies for monitoring the utilization of flying fish resources. The current policies protect aboriginal marine culture and employ ‘total allowable catch’ (TAC) as a transitional mechanism in flying fish caviar harvesting. In the future, the government should employ collaborative measures at a regional level, including quota allocation based on scientific evidence, in order to maintain ecosystem balance and ensure the sustainability of fish resources. Activities to promote seafood, and the catching of adult fish on a large scale, must be stringently managed according to the amount of resources available. Finally, the most appropriate and least risky approach, is to designate flying fish spawning grounds as marine protected areas.