The maritime industries of Taiwan are a large part of Taiwan's economy. Industries of particular importance areshipbuilding,boat building,maritime transport,aquaculture,mariculture,commercial fishing,seafood processing,offshore wind power and various forms of tourism.Deep sea mining, especially of dormant hydrothermal vents, is also being considered for the future.[1] In 2018 Taiwan was the fourth largest yacht building nation. Taiwan is home to a number ofmaritime museums and maritime colleges.
Taiwan is anisland nation and as such has an intimate relationship with the sea.[2] Seafarers from Taiwan are believed to have colonized theRyukyu Islands 30,000 year ago.[3] The indigenousYami people ofOrchid Island are famous for their seafaring skills and most Taiwanese indigenous people practiced some right or ritual related to the sea. Waves of immigrants and conquerors have traveled to Taiwan over the seas from Mainland China, Europe, Japan, and elsewhere. The people of Taiwan are collectively known as the "Children of the Sea.”[4]
The principle goddess ofchinese folk religion as practiced in Taiwan is the sea goddessMazu. Her veneration is particularly popular along Taiwan's east coast.[4]
Geographically Taiwan's relationship with the sea is shaped by its location at the eastern end of theEurasian landmass. The east coast is under the influence of the strongKuroshio Current. The west coast of Taiwan is muddy with large tidal flats, tides in the west are much stronger than those on the east and as such they have a much greater influence on daily routines.[4]
TheShip and Ocean Industries R&D Center (SOIC), founded in 1976 as the United Ship Design and Development Center (USDDC), plays an important role in supporting Taiwan's maritime industries.[5] SOIC works on commercial, government, and military projects as well as basic scientific research.[2] TheYacht Industry Department of SOIC is the only government supported R&D center for yacht materials and design in the world.[6]
Taiwan's maritime culture suffered under the KMT who nationalized the seashore and closed off access to most Taiwanese as well as forbade private recreational boat ownership. This led to an extreme disconnect between the island nation and the waters which surround it. As late as 2010 half of all Taiwanese did not know how to swim. Since the end of the martial law period the Taiwanese people have embarked on a process of re-embracing their maritime culture.[7]
As of 2009 90% of Taiwan's trade was seaborne.Evergreen Marine andYang Ming Marine Transport Corporation are two major ocean shipping companies based in Taiwan.Wan Hai Lines andToday Makes Tomorrow are smaller but still globally significant ocean shipping companies.[2] In 2016 amid a global downturn in the shipping industry the Taiwanese government spent $1.9B to support the domestic shipping industry.[8]
As of 2019 Taiwan had the 11th largest national shipping capacity by deadweight tons.[9]
Taiwan's main ports thePort of Taipei,Port of Keelung, andPort of Kaohsiung.[2] Most of the nation's large ports are managed byTaiwan International Ports Corporation which is astate-owned enterprise.[9]
The modern shipbuilding industry of Taiwan began in 1948 when the Government established the Taiwan Shipbuilding Corporation (TSBC) inKeelung. In 1957 the US based Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation established the Ingalls Taiwan Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, which subsequently rented the TSBC shipyard and produced 14 vessels between 1957 and 1962. The Government prioritized shipbuilding as one of the core industries of the economy, in 1973 they established theChina Shipbuilding Corporation which was merged with TSBC in 1978. In 2008 the ship- and boat-building industry had a production value of 2.09b USD with CSBC accounting for 54% of production, small and medium yards 22% and yacht builders 16%.[2]
As of 2009 there were 116 shipyards (including 34 yacht builders) and 10 marine equipment companies in Taiwan. Major shipyards includeCSBC Corporation, Taiwan,Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Company, andLungteh Shipbuilding.[2] Military and Coast Guard orders make up a large portion of shipbuilders books by dollar value. Between theTaiwanese Navy and theCoast Guard Administration Taiwan spends approximately a billion dollars a year on new vessel construction.[10]
Karmin International has supplied boats to the Taiwanese Navy and Coast Guard, as well as export customers,[11] including theRepublic of the Marshall Islands,[12]Palau,Nauru, andTuvalu.[13]
A number of Taiwanese companies are engaged in the development ofuncrewed surface vehicles. Taiwanese uncrewed surface vehicle manufacturers include NCSIST,Thunder Tiger, CSBC Corporation Taiwan, Carbon-based Technology, Lungteh Shipbuilding, and Corum International.[14]
One third of new yachts sold in the US between 1977 and 1981 were made in Taiwan. In 1987 Taiwan exported 1,755 vessels worth US$190.8 million to the US. During this era more than 100 shipyards and boatbuilders in Taiwan built craft for the export market. Between 1986 and 1992 the New Taiwan Dollar appreciated 58% against the US Dollar which made Taiwanese built yachts significantly less competitive in the US market. By 1994 dozens of yacht and boat builders had gone out of business or been acquired by competitors. Sales recovered but fell again after theGreat Recession before strengthening again.[15]
In 2017 Taiwan exported one hundred and sixty two yachts.[16] In 2018 Taiwan was the fourth largest yacht building nation by feet of yacht built after Italy, The Netherlands and Turkey. Major yacht and boat builders includeHorizon Yachts,Ocean Alexander,Johnson Yachts,Jade Yachts, andTa Shing Yacht Building.[17] Taiwan remained fourth in the world through 2021.[18]
Regulations enacted during the martial law era meant that ownership of personal leisure craft was not permitted until 2010.[15] While maritime recreation facilities and infrastructure remain underdeveloped the Taiwanese government has emphasized marine sports and related tourism as an economic opportunity for Taiwan's outlying islands.[19]
The development of Taiwan's domestic yachting industry has been led by its domestic yacht manufacturers with Kha Shing and Horizon building marinas with associated repair/refit facilities.[20]
.jpg)
Aquaculture has a long history in Taiwan.[21] By 2006 the production of Taiwanese coastal aquaculture was valued at NT$11,817 million.[22] In the 21st century high technology is playing a greater part in Taiwan's aquaculture industry as the industry struggles to cope with labor shortages and fierce foreign competition. The Taiwanese government operates six fisheries and aquaculture research centers.[23]
The Aquaculture Taiwan Expo & Forum is the primary aquaculturetrade show in Taiwan, it is held concurrently with the Livestock Taiwan Expo & Forum and the Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum.[24]
The Taiwanese scientistLiao I-chiu is known as the "Father of Shrimp Farming,” having pioneered many of the techniques and overcome many of the technical hurdles which allowed the creation of the modern globalshrimp farming industry.[25] Thegiant river prawn is widely cultivated in Taiwan. In 2012 Taiwan produced 3% of world production.[26]
Milkfish is one of Taiwan's most commercially important fish, yearly production is 50,000 tons of milkfish valued at $4.1 billion New Taiwan Dollars. Consumption and ranching of milkfish in Taiwan dates back hundreds of years.[27]
The Taiwanese ornamental fish and shrimp industry is significant with more than 250 commercial operations, ~200 of them with operations inPingtung County. Taiwan was once known as the “cichlid kingdom” for its specialization incichlids, a fad which culminated in the breeding of theblood parrot cichlid in 1986.[28] The fields ofbiotechnology andapplied ecology are playing an ever increasing role in the Taiwanese aquarium sector.[29]
Taiwan is one of the largestfishing nations on earth and the associatedfish processing industry is also significant.[30] More than one third of the worldslongline tuna fishing vessels are operated by Taiwanese companies with the total strength of the distant waters fishing fleet at more than 2,000 vessels. The fishing industry is estimated to be worth approximately two billion dollars.[31] Taiwan's ocean fisheries sector employs 350,000 people and there are 130,000 fishing households in Taiwan.[32] The Taiwanese seafood industry was worth 1.3 billion dollars a year in 2020.[33]
Taiwanese conglomerateFCF Co, Ltd. is one of the largesttuna traders in the world moving more than half million tons a year,[34] in 2019 they acquiredBumble Bee Foods for close to 1 billion dollars.[35]Commercialwhaling was introduced by Japanese colonialists in 1913 and continued under Japanese control in World War Two. The practice was restarted by Kuomintang (KMT) authorities in 1955. It was eventually outlawed in 1981 under significant international pressure. The whaling industry historically centered onHengchun. After the cessation of whaling awhale watching industry developed.[36]
The firstoffshore wind farms in Taiwan,Formosa 1 Offshore Wind Farm, started its commercial operation in April 2017 at off the coast ofMiaoli County. The Formosa II wind farms will be constructed also offshore Miaoli County with a planned capacity of 300-500 MW. The Formosa III wind farm will be constructed offshoreChanghua County with a planned capacity of 1,900 MW.[37] Taiwan has one of the fastest growing offshore wind power industries in the world.[38] As of 2020, there were 361 onshore turbines and 22 offshore turbines in operation with the total installed capacity of 845.2 MW.[39]
In 2007 the Ministry of Education released the Marine Education Policy, the firsteducation policy document with a maritime focus.[41] As of 2014 marine and maritime education at the primary and secondary level had been greatly expanded with each of Taiwan's 22 counties, special municipalities and cities establishing a marine education center at either an elementary or high school. Within nationwide science curriculums the portion of marine centered content has been increased. Marine issues are also taught to 9th graders nationwide as part of a curriculum onoceans and climate change.[40]
| History |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | ||
| Banking and finance | ||
| Government agencies | ||
| Research | ||
| Sectors | ||
| Industrial and science parks |
| |
| Central Business Districts | ||
| Associations | ||
| Other | ||
| Leadership |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Organization | ||
| Equipment and vessels | ||
| Others | ||
