Taiwan's grouper aquaculture to benefit from ECFA

With Taiwan's cultured grouper to be given zero tariff treatment under a landmark cross-Taiwan Strait trade pact, many grouper farmers plan to expand their grouper ponds and even fishermen have expressed interest in entering the lucrative market, industry sources said Monday.

Earlier in the day, President Ma Ying-jeou predicted that Taiwan will become the largest source of grouper in the world as the fish has been included on Taiwan's "early harvest" list of goods and services that will enjoy preferential tariff treatment under the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA).

Two days previously, Ma expressed hope that the total annual production value of grouper -- which are mainly raised in Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties in southern Taiwan -- will increase to NT$7.6 billion (US$237 million)

Dai Kun-Tsai, a grouper farmer who successfully raises giant grouper in Pingtung, said that increasing demand from China made him consider to double the acerage of his ponds.

"The demand from China for the fish during the Shanghai World Expo has been the greatest I have ever seen in more than 20 years, " Dai said.

Dai also said that as the government now allows boats to transport live grouper directly to 11 harbors in China's Fujian Province, the high quality of the fish and the zero tariff treatment are expected to increase the economic potential for the product.

He noted that two fisheries in China have recently set up offices in Taiwan with the aim of grabbing more grouper wholesale business.

According to Ho Shu-yuan, director of a fishermen's association in Kaohsiung County, some local fishermen have approached the association to seek advice on how to enter the grouper aquaculture business.

Ho said the price of quality grouper has increased to NT$416 per kilo, up 56 percent from last year, while the price of giant grouper has risen by 27 percent to NT$466 per kilo.

Huang Tsai-tuan, head of Pingtung County's Aquaculture Development Association, said local grouper aquaculturists hope the signing of the ECFA will help them recover from losses they sustained because of the inundation triggered by Typhoon Morakot last August.

Meanwhile, as butterfly orchids are also on the country's "early harvest" list, the combined size of Taiwan's orchid farms is also expected to increase from 200 hectares to 300 hectares, according to a local media report.

The signing of the ECFA will enable local orchid growers to expand their export market, in which about 98 percent of local butterfly orchids at present are shipped to Japan, one grower was quoted as saying.