The Ocean Affairs Council organized the "APEC Workshop on Promoting Women ''s Role in Ocean Science towards Sustainable and Inclusive Ocean Governance " on March 16th and 17th in Kaohsiung as part of its efforts to promote and enhance women ''s participation in ocean science. It echoes the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and APEC ''s theme for 2023, "Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All. " Representatives from APEC economies were invited to participate in this event held in Taiwan to exchange views on promoting regional gender awareness and pursuing equality and in clusiveness in ocean science.    Dr. Wen-Ling Hong, Deputy Minister of the Ocean Affairs Council, pointed out, "according to research, women account for only 39% of ocean science. Due to systemic barriers, including social, cultural, and economic factors, women ''s participation in ocean science and governance is limited, and their dedication and contributions are overlooked " during her opening remarks. To this end, the workshop served as a platform for dialogue and exchange to support gender equality in the APEC region and envisage sustainable and in clusive ocean governance.    On the morning of the 16th March, Ms. Chloe Nunn, a former official of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO ''s Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, shed light on the role of women in leading the ocean science industry on the global stage. This was followed by a keynote sp eech by Dr. Hong on the best practices of female leadership in the ocean science industry. In the afternoon, representatives from APEC member economies and female ocean scientists explored policies and innovative strategies to promote women ''s participation in ocean science, providing the next steps for women ''s engagement in ocean science.    In addition, delegates will join a field trip on March 17th. Female surveyors from DRAGON SURVEY CO., LTD., responsible for ocean survey and underwater operation experiences on th e survey ship, will share their work on the survey ship. And representatives from APEC economies will board "Polaris " survey ship and learn about the facilities and conditions of working at sea.    ​The APEC workshop attracted nearly 150 participants from various sectors, including representatives from APEC economies, including the Philippines, Peru, Chile, Indonesia, the Un ited States, Viet Nam, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea, and different sectors, such as academia, civil society, and industry leaders. The participants discussed strategies for incre asing women ''s participation in ocean science in the Asia-Pacific region and environmental and technological fields through information sharing and exchange. The ultimate goal was to bridge th e gender gap, provide innovative knowledge and practices in ocean science, and work together toward sustainable and inclusive ocean governance.  

Ocean Affairs Council Announcement Code : No. 1110013442 January 9, 2023   Subject:  Announcement of “The Standard Operating Procedure for the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Republic of Nauru ’s Joint Maritime Patrol in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the republic Nauru ”   Basis: Based on   Article 12 Paragraph 1 of the Conclusion of Treaties Act. Announcement Consent: The exchange of agreed upon documents as indicated in this announcement which has entered into force on November 17, 2022 ,as previously agreed to by both side. Please see the link for details(The Executive Yuan Gazette Online):  https://gazette.nat.gov.tw/egFront/detail.do?metaid=137920 &log=detailLog

The Ocean Affairs Council, joined by the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association (JTEA), the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), and the Au stralian Office Taipei (AOT) kicked off a hybrid Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) workshop entitled Sustainable Oceans based on the Rule of Law on October 26. This was the first GCTF event held in Tokyo since its launch in 2015. ROC (Taiwan) representative to Japan Frank Hsieh and JTEA President Yasuaki Tanizaki attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks, while AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk and AOT Representative Jenny Bloomfield provided recorded remarks in the event. The co-hosts reaffirmed their continued com mitments to deepening cooperation in areas of maritime law enforcement and marine environmental protection under this framework.  In his remarks, Representative Hsieh stated "The sea connects us all. Maritime disasters respect no boundaries. We must work together to deliver solutions to key issues such as transnational crime, threats to freedom of navi gation, and any unilateral attempts to change the status quo that seek to challenge the international order. It is our shared responsibility to build a more peaceful and more stabl e international community with more abundant natural resources for generations to come. We hope this program can foster networking that enables us to know each other better. " An interagency delegation including representatives and experts from the OAC and the MOFA traveled to Tokyo to engage with officials and experts from Southeast Asia and Oceania. Th e opening session featured National Academy of Marine Research (NAMR) President Jiahn-Horng Chen as one of the two keynote speakers. President Chen delivered an address on Environm ental Impact Assessment on Huge Sea Sand Dredging, focusing on how illegal sea sand mining can pose a threat to the marine ecosystem and put immense pressure on benthic communities , as well as the measures proposed by UNEP that we can take to avert this crisis. President Chen also pointed out the current study and future trajectory of a survey project conduc ted by NAMR in which scientific data has been used to monitor the ocean ''s health. His speech aims to raise global awareness of this critical issue and contribute to sustainable management of the marine environment and marine resources.     Over 200 officials, experts, and participants from 20 countries took part in this event both in person and online. Expert panelists from Taiwan, Japan, the U.S., and Australia prov ided substantive presentations on topics related to marine environmental protection, search and rescue at sea, and maritime law enforcement, as well as shared best practices of how to cooperate with the international community. Their respective experiences highlight the core value of upholding a rules-based international order at sea and the shared goal to a dvance a free and open Indo-Pacific. This discussion also reflects the importance of continued efforts in international partnerships to accelerate the realization of a healthier ma rine ecosystem and a more secure maritime order in the future.  

The Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) and the American Institute in Taiwan Kaohsiung Branch Office (AIT/K) co-hosted the virtual 2022 Taiwan International Ocean Youth Leadership Camp on August 17. This event is part of the ongoing efforts to engage Ocean Youth Advisory Committee members with international affairs on ocean issues.   This leadership camp highlights the continued efforts in the collaboration between AIT/K and OAC. Both sides seek to expand the opportunities to bring diverse experts and youth to the global stage for productive exchange, in an attempt to empower emerging leaders in Taiwan by developing a global mindset and advancing the capacity for international engagement .   In her remarks, Sandra Oudkirk, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, said that the serious challenges facing our oceans require a global response. This type of internation al collaboration requires leaders with a global perspective, with strong cross-cultural skills and experience, and a willingness to build transnational partnerships. She encourages all participants to continue to make a positive contribution to the global community. OAC Deputy Minister Ching-Piao, Tsai mentioned that thinking out of the box in the changing global paradigm is now a priority. Since young people are at the forefront of respondin g to the most pressing issues confronting us, we have to harness the full potential of the young generations in leadership.     Today ’s event featured five keynote speakers including Mr. Lambert from AIT/K, Mr. Kipic from the Australian Office, Ms. Liu (劉靜靜) from Acer, Mr. Shyy (史立軍) from TaiwanICDF, as well as Taiwan ’s youth delegate of Our Ocean Conference –Mr. Chen (陳懷璞). Each session speaker shared their knowledge and insight covering a range of topics that inspired all the participants. The OAC and AIT/K look forward to seeing the long-term results of these meaningful conversations and the impact these emerging leaders will have on our communities, our country, and our world.

The Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) and the American Institute in Taiwan Kaohsiung Branch Office (AIT/K) co-hosted the Ocean Challenge 2022 virtual event on June 1 and 2. This youth-o riented event expanded into an international competition for the first time this year, appealing to quite a number of school teams in the Indo-Pacific region, such as Vietnam, Indo nesia, and Malaysia to submit their action proposals. Sandra Oudkirk, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, said in her remarks that this event is particularly significant to her. The ocean is an essential part of her everyda y life as being born and raised in Tampa, Florida. She also mentioned that our oceans are some of the world ’s most critical natural resources. Protecting our oceans and supporting ocean communities requires partners from both the public and private sectors to work together to create inn ovative solutions. She encourages everyone to continue applying their creativity to solve some of the major challenges confronting our oceans. OAC Deputy Minister Ching-Piao, Tsai mentioned that the Ocean Challenge events have engaged and inspired the youth to think critically about these complex ocean problems over the past few years, offering them a platform to learn from each other ''s perspectives and ideas. This year ’s Ocean Challenge also includes participation from young professional and international student teams for the first time. “Among these participants are leading representatives from NGOs, emerging professionals studying in ocean-related graduate programs, as well as enthusiastic and talented high schoo l students hailing from 10 countries with the motivation to protect our oceans ”, Tsai added. The opening session features Dr. Jeremy Werdell ’s keynote speech entitled “Observing the microscopic living (and non-living) ocean from space ”. Dr. Werdell is currently a satellite oceanographer at NASA ’s Goddard Space Flight Center. He shared with the participants how his team takes a satellite measurement from 700 km above the earth ’s surface and uses that measurement to study the variability of the oceans. His informative presentation demystified the use of satellites and showed that NASA ''s research could benefit the earth and help us protect the oceans. This year saw a score of creative teams vying for the limited finalist slots. Only 19 finalists made it to the final stage. Each team came up with an innovative and science-focuse d solution that promised to reverse the problems facing the oceans. First place prizes were awarded to National Taiwan Ocean University, Kaohsiung Municipal Rueisiang High School, Indigo Waters Institute, and Terengganu University in Malaysia in each of the four categories. These four outstanding teams also won a cash prize of NTD 50,000. This year also marks the first time OAC announced a new Best Proposal Award, funding the winner a grant of up to NTD 100,000 to implement their proposal idea. This prize was award ed to IndigoWaters Institute, with their proposal earning the judges ’ recognition for its high feasibility. The team proposes to develop an underwater detection tool that can identify abandoned oyster cords and locate hot spots of aquaculture waste , and then deploy suitable removal equipment to get rid of the waste. Their action plan not only intends to solve the long-standing problem of oyster-farming waste in Taiwan but al so manages to recycle the discarded oyster cords in a circular economy model. The Best Proposal Award is bestowed on one outstanding team that best innovatively uses science as a strategic asset to solve ocean issues. The OAC hopes the new funding opportuni ty can help the youth implement their innovative proposal through a public-private partnership and increase an even greater sense of achievement of the participants.  

The submissions for Ocean Challenge 2022 have been evaluated by a judging panel of experts and scholars in the appropriate disciplines. 20 teams were selected to proceed to the fin als. Please refer to the attachment for the shortlist.

Taiwan and the US signed the agreement of technical cooperation for establishing satellite-based marine oil pollution and marine debris monitoring collaborative activity.

※ Oceans of Sustainability ※ Ocean State

   Ms. Jenny Bloomfield, Representative of the Australian Office Taipei, visited the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) on October 14th with Deputy Representative Brent Moore. Both sides ex changed views on marine protected areas (MPA), Austronesian marine culture, safety of marine activities and rescue at sea. “Taiwan and Australia are both located in the Pacific Ocean and we have close relationships with the ocean, similar historical experience and marine cultural heritage, “ Deputy Minister of OAC Tsai Ching-Piao(蔡清標) said. “The OAC is holding Pan-Austro-Nesian Arts Festival with Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts this year. We invite artists from Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea to express the beauty of marine culture aesthetics. ”    Bloomfield said that Taiwan and Australia are both ocean countries, and it is pleased to have this dialogue with the OAC and to continue future communication on marine environment al protection, IUU, maritime security and indigenous marine culture and other significant issues. “We are willing to collaborate with each other step by step to promote the development of marine sustainability, ” she emphasized.    Tsai added that the Ocean Conservation Administration of the OAC will visit the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia to learn about zoning plan and coral restoration to do integration work of marine protected areas. OAC has promoted the “Salute to the Seas ” Policy and allow people "go into the seas ” progressively, and expects to learn about the beach grade risk classifications and beach safety internet from Australia.     Tsai also said, “I am very appreciative of Representative Bloomfield who puts Taiwan in her heart by her Chinese name (怡). Taiwan and Australia are dedicated to the conservation of the ocean and e mbrace ocean culture. We should prioritize areas of marine activities safety, marine science research, indigenous marine culture and marine policy. By exchanging experience through mutual discussions, both parties can share experiences and practices to seek opportunities for cooperation. What ’s more, our cooperation will lead to reinforced partnership between Taiwan and Australia. ”  

   The Ocean Affairs Council, in cooperation with the American Institute in Taiwan Kaohsiung Branch Office (AIT/K), co-hosted a virtual International Conference on Ocean Governance o n September 23, 2021. Over 250 participants from 14 countries took part in the conference, including international students and scholars from USA, France, Philippines, Vietnam, Ind onesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and Ghana. For the conference, ocean professionals were invited to share their research works over a broad spectrum o f areas, such as ocean law and policy, marine education, marine science and technology, ocean conservation, maritime safety and security, ocean environmental engineering and marine industry.    OAC Deputy Minister, Ching-Piao Tsai said that “ The purpose of this Conference is to raise public awareness of the critical issues confronting our oceans, as ocean governance is about managing the oceans and their resources so that they are healthy and productive, for the benefit of many generations to come. This is in line with the National Ocean Policy White Paper and its core visions of ecological su stainability, maritime security, and industrial prosperity. That demonstrates one of the main reasons why the OAC is committed to achieving policy goals, including Ocean Law and Po licy, Marine Education, Marine Science and Technology, Ocean Conservation, Maritime Safety & Security, Ocean Environmental Engineering, Maritime Industry. The thematic panel discussions will explore the topics related to those goals respectively. ”    Kaohsiung Branch Chief of the American Institute in Taiwan, Mason Yu said that “The United States and Taiwan have had a long history of cooperation on environmental issues. In recent years, both sides have worked hand in hand to bring together leading scienti fic experts and activists from the United States, Taiwan and elsewhere, to participate in multiple international forums, including the annual Ocean Challenge STEM competition, the 2021 Taiwan International Ocean Youth Leadership Camp, and the 2020 Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) Conference on Marine Debris. The challenges and issues that are being discussed here today are massive in scale and extraordinarily complex. It will take sustained, coordinated efforts from the best and brightest around the world to tackle the se problems. This is why international forums like this one are so important. The more we collaborate, share new ideas and build wider, more diverse networks, the better equipped w e will all be to make real progress in protecting our oceans. ”    By hosting the international conference, OAC collected the up-to-date research results and grasp the latest development trends. The researchers from industries, governments, acade mies have opportunities to interact with experts from various fields. In addition to knowledge and experiences sharing, OAC also received suggestions on marine governance. Furtherm ore, the international conference also increased participation in international affairs, with the aim of actively promoting Taiwan ’s involvement in international conferences and organizations.  

The Ocean Affairs Council (OAC), in cooperation with the American Institute in Taiwan Kaohsiung Branch Office (AIT/K) co-hosted the Ocean Challenge 2021 virtual event on July 7. T his was the third session joined by both sides as co-hosts since the creation of the event in 2019. “The event is programmed in light of the core of UN ’s Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and with an attempt to strengthen young adults ’ capabilities of international ocean affairs. We encourage students to realize the ocean crisis and global challenges and address the issues with ocean science and technology. The OAC has been organizing Ocean Challenge in partnership with AIT/K since 2018. The first Ocean Challenge, formerly known as the Southern Taiwan Youth Ocean Forum, took place in 201 9 and continued to expand with more students in participation each year. This year, OAC further invited college students to participate in the competition besides senior high schoo l students. Among them are several international students from Hong Kong, America, India, Indonesia, Eswatini, Algeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Bangladesh, with the motivation to prot ect our oceans, ” said Ching-Piao Tsai, Deputy Minister of OAC. This year, AIT/K invited Linwood Pendleton as the keynote speaker. Dr. Pendleton is the senior vice president for Science at the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and th e Ocean, and holds the International Chair of Excellence at the European Institute of Marine Studies. His areas of expertise include ocean policy, conservation, technology, and dat a. With a speech entitled “Data and technology for a healthy ocean – promises and challenges ”, the prestigious expert shared his experience with ocean policies on utilizing data and technology for ocean conservation and improving marine issues. His presentation inspired a ll the participants with innovation and stimulated creative thinking.     10 teams had been chosen to proceed to the final round and gave English presentations of their proposals, including Ming Chuan University, joint team of Soochow University and Nat ional Kaohsiung Normal University, Chang Jung Christian University, Taipei Municipal Jingmei Girls '' High School, National Nanke International Experimental High School, The Affiliated Senior High School of National Kaohsiung Normal University, National Feng-Shan Senior High Scho ol, National Pingtung Senior Industrial Vocational School and National Experimental High School at Hsinchu Science Park. The participants explored critical marine issues and came u p with solutions in their own projects, such as promoting sea turtle conservation with smart art, making interceptors to prevent river debris from entering the ocean, using UAVs as an aid to avoid overfishing, building waste treatment station in estuaries, and producing biodegradable fishing nets to reduce ghost gear. All the individual entries were carefull y reviewed and evaluated by the jury, consisting of  Cheng-Di Dong of National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Chia-Ying Ko of National Taiwan University Associate, Chung-Ling Chen and Ta-Gang Liu of National Cheng K ung University, and Tung-Yung Fan of National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium. Chang Jung Christian University came in first place in the university category, followed by Ming Chuan University and joint team of Soochow University and National Kaohsiung Norma l University. The top prize ’s project features the construction of a smart art installation by using various marine debris collected at Liuqiu Beach, and data collection of sea turtles via UAVs and through d iving. The data is then displayed on the smart art installation after the analysis of environmental and biological parameters is done. The students also seek to work with local com munity to promote ocean environmental education online, hoping to enhance cross-country exchanges in marine conservation, cultivate global seeded teachers for ocean environmental e ducation, and raise public awareness towards marine ecological conservation nationwide and overseas. What ’s unique about this entry is they try to reach out to the community and carry out the plan by actions. These international students said they would continue to promote marine cons ervation in their home countries, drawing on the valuable experience they gained in Taiwan. National Pingtung Senior Industrial Vocational School won first prize in the high school division, as the Affiliated Senior High School of National Kaohsiung Normal University cam e second, and National Nanke International Experimental High School was placed third. The first-prize winner ’s proposal is characterized by a retrofitted fishing vessel combining with a recycling system. This device enables the vessel to suck the plastic waste at sea and allows the waste management procedure to proceed on board. The waste is then sorted, cleaned and crushed, using alternative techniques such as biodegradation or hydraulic compressors. The next is shipping all the waste materials back to land for recycling and reuse. National Pingtung Senior Industrial Vocational School retains championship as their entry earns recognition f or its feasibility and innovation, winning them an award of NT$30,000.  

Strengthening U.S.-Taiwan maritime cooperation The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establi sh a Coast Guard Working Group (CGWG), March 25. As an Indo-Pacific democracy, Taiwan is a reliable, capable, and natural partner for the United States as both nations seek to upho ld a free, open, and rules-based international order. The United States is committed to deepening ties with Taiwan. This MOU lays an important foundation for strengthened Coast Gua rd and maritime cooperation on a wide range of issues between the United States and Taiwan, facilitated by AIT and TECRO. The CGWG is intended to improve communications, build cooperation, and improve information sharing between AIT and TECRO through their respective designated representatives, the U .S. Coast Guard, and the Taiwan Coast Guard. Additionally, this MOU affirms a relationship with the common objectives of preserving maritime resources; reducing illegal, unreported , and unregulated fishing; and participating in joint maritime search and rescue and environmental response events. The United States looks forward to creating new initiatives to h ighlight and share Taiwan ’s expertise on maritime law enforcement, expand Taiwan ’s regional partnerships, and strengthen cooperation in the maritime domain. Taiwan has proven itself to be a champion for international law and standards, time and time again, making it an ideal partner for not only the United States, but also for the bro ader international community. As the United States strengthens its commitment to Taiwan, the hope is that other like-minded countries will do the same. Supporting Taiwan strengthen s democracy and shared values, not only in the Indo-Pacific but throughout the world. By Fred Vellucci Fred Vellucci is the political-military affairs officer in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs ’ Office of Taiwan Coordination. From left: American Institute of Taiwan Managing Director Ingrid Larson and Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States Representative Bi-khim Hsiao initiate a new era of U.S.-Taiwan cooperation at the memorandum of understanding signing ceremony in Arlington, Va., March 25. Photo courtesy of TECRO

The announcement reception of the Taiwan-US Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a Coast Guard Working Group was held on March 26th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu(吳釗燮), accompanied by Minister of Ocean Affairs Council Lee Chung-Wei (李仲威), Deputy Minister of Ocean Affairs Council and Direct or-General of Coast Guard Administration(CGA) Chou Mei-Wu (周美伍) and Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) William Brent Christensen(酈英傑).   Taiwan and the US officially signed the MOU to establish a Coast Guard Working Group (CGWG), writing a new chapter on Taiwan-US relationship. By cooperation in maritime law enforc ement, ecological preservation, protection of fishing rights, and search & rescue at sea, both sides will contributed to keep regional peace and stability through Coast Guard cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.   Taiwan-US Coast Guard cooperation has reached a remarkable milestone by signing this MOU. Both parties plan a series of celebrations for this achievement. Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United State (TECRO) Bi-Khim Hsiao(蕭美琴) and Managing Director of AIT-Washington Headquarter Ingrid D. Larson signed the MOU in W ashington D.C. on March 25th (EST), witnessed by Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Sung Kim and Director of International Affairs and Foreign P olicy Advisor of US Coast Guard Ann Castiglione-Cataldo.   This MOU will establish a platform to institutionalize a dialogue mechanism to develop training curriculums, build cooperation plans, and share information between Taiwan and the US, which also demonstrates the Taiwan-US Coast Guard exchanges have entered a new era.   Since the establishment of the Coast Guard Administration of the Ocean Affairs Council (CGA), it has worked closely with the US Coast Guard in terms of humanitarian aids, educatio n and training, and protection fishing rights. The rescue mission of the commercial tuna longliner, Yong Yu Sing No. 18, joint training programs with the US, and attending internat ional conferences are the indicators of our strong partnership.   This MOU is the result of systematic and institutional cooperation between Taiwan and the US. Taiwan plays an indispensable role in the US Indo-Pacific Strategy and Taiwan CGA is the corresponding agency for safeguarding Taiwan ''s maritime rights. Taiwan looks forward to cooperating with the United States and other corresponding competent authorities and hopes to continue deepening the Taiwan-US partnersh ip and common interests.    

According to the National Ocean Policy White Paper, six policy goals of the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) are: 1. Building regional strategic thinking and defending maritime soverei gn rights；2. Implementing maritime law enforcement measures and promoting regional security cooperation；3. Maintaining marine ecological health and optimizing marine environmental quality；4. Setting industrial development goals and promoting blue industry upgrade；5. Building an ocean-friendly culture among citizens and cultivating nationwide oceanic thinking ；6. Fostering scientific development momentum and enhancing scientific research capabilities. The core value of policy goals is sustainability. The vision is to create a high-quali ty sustainable marine-nation that is ecological, safe, and prosperous. OAC and AIT/K will host the Taiwan International Conference on Marine Governance 2021, which will be implemen ted by National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology.   OAC and AIT/K are currently inviting English papers for the following 6 research areas: Ocean Law and policy, Marine culture and Education; Marine Science and Technology; Ocean Co nservation; Maritime Safety and Security; Ocean Engineering; and Marine Industry. In each research area, 3 dissertations will be chosen and awarded scholarships, US$600, US$300, an d US$200 respectively. Each researcher will also receive a certificate which is signed jointly by OAC and AIT. Researchers from both domestic and international academic institutes, high schools, central and local governments, research institutes, public and private sectors, NGOs are welcome to submit his/her English dissertation and an application form to Ms . Lin in the International Development Department of OAC by June 30th, 2021. Selected dissertations will be listed on the agenda of the   Taiwan International Conference on Marine Governance 2021 on Sep. 23rd, 2021.  

Mr. Guildo Tielman, Representative of the Netherlands Office Taipei, visited the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) on March 12th along with Deputy Representative Ren é Beerepoot. Both sides exchanged views on offshore wind power, marine ecology, marine spatial planning, preservation of underwater cultural heritage.                         “With fruitful outcomes in the last two years, OAC is pleased to meet with the Netherlands delegates again, “ Deputy Minister of OAC Tsai Ching-Piao(蔡清標) said. “Development of offshore wind power is facing challenges in many sectors, like marine ecology, fishermen ’s rights, and marine safety. It is needed to find a common ground between utilization of marine space and stakeholders ’ interests. The promotion of the North Sea Agreement and offshore Wind Energy Ecological Programs in the Netherlands is worthy of our reference. ”                         Tielman said that it is pleased to have this dialogue with the OAC and to continue future communication between Taiwan and the Netherlands. Tielman also invited OAC to co-host Ec ology Webinars this June, hoping to share experiences and practices.                         “OAC is going to hold the 2021 Taiwan International Ocean Forum in the Academia Sinica, Taipei on June 7th and National Oceans Day in Keelung on June 8th. OAC is hoping that this t ype of activities will shed light on development of marine sustainability, ” Tsai added.                             “Taiwan can contribute more to the international society. By exchanging experience through mutual discussions, both parties can gradually seek opportunities of cooperation in areas of marine debris management, marine technology application, circular economy, spatial planning, and preservation of offshore wind farms ecology. Furthermore, our cooperation will lead to reinforcing partnership between Taiwan and the Netherlands, ” Tsai concluded.