Achievements

Continuous Implementation of Organizational Reform and Laying out the Structure for Sustainable Development

To realize the Oceanic Nation Policies, the Executive Yuan has set up the Marine Affairs Promotion Committee, and the draft of the Executive Yuan Organization Law has also been added to the organization of the Marine Affairs Commission. The administration will carry out an overall adjustment to its organization and staff, in accordance to the Law of Central Administrative Organization and directions from the Executive Yuan, in response to the needs of future developments.

Requesting Suggestions from Experts and Scholars; establishing the Marine Affairs Commission

The establishment guidelines for the Marine Affairs Commission of the Administration were approved by the Executive Yuan on August 15th 2003 and took effect on September 1st of the same year. After the approval, the administration has invited experts and scholars in the fields of Maritime Policies, Maritime Law-Enforcement, Ocean Traffic, Marine Technologies, and Marine Resources to join the Committee for studies on relevant issues. Suggestions and comments from the experts and scholars will serve as references for studies on relevant issues by the Marine Affairs Promotion Committee.

Fortifying the Forces of Maritime Patrol; Establishing Maritime Law-Enforcement

1. To safeguard the seas of Taiwan and maintain order on the coast, the Administration has grown in the four years since its establishment from 83 ships to 165 ships over 20 tons. The strengthened forces are expected to conduct maritime law-enforcement and patrol duties effectively.
2. To respond to the needs of the administration by developing various models of fleets, the administration has been actively planning the construction of Coast-Maritime Joint Bases. A Taipei Port Patrol Base is planned for the northern area, and a Xingda Port Patrol Base is planned for the southern area.
3. he administration plans to fully utilize public and private communication facilities, acquire radars, intelligence-gathering and surveillance facilities to construct an on-shore coastal radar system that will efficiently carry out command, control, communication, information, intelligence, and surveillance (C4ISR) functions.
4. The following is a summary of surveillance achievements from 2000 (since establishment) to August 2004:
1. Illegal immigrants: total 1,299 cases with suspects of 828 persons and illegal immigrants of 3,660 persons.
2. Guns: 145 cases involving 145 guns and 18,660 ammunitions.
3. Drugs: 381 cases and 353kg of first-class drugs; 2,123kg of second-class drugs, and 77kg of third-class drugs.
4. Rescue: 1,206 cases; 4,442 people and 1,200 ships rescued.
5. Environmental Pollution: 107 cases and 145 arrested suspects. Of these, 9 cases and 39 suspects involved major pollution to the ocean. Another 98 cases of general ocean pollution involved 113 suspects.

Implementing Various Programs; Maintaining the Security of the Seas of the Nation

1. Sea-Safeguard Work
To defend against disturbances by illegal gangs, sea-air joint assignments will prevent and contain illegal forces. Since its establishment, the Sea-Safeguard Mission has achieved excellent results.
2. Clean Ocean Program
To maintain the resources and environment of the ocean, the administration planned the "Clean Ocean Program": mainland China fishing boats entering prohibited or controlled seawaters without permission will be detained and investigated under the Nation's right to maritime law-enforcement.
3. Snake-Hunting Program
On November 1st 2003, the Executive Yuan set up a cross-departmental "Illegal Immigration Organized Crime Program" (codenamed the Snake-Hunting Program), which increased the joint assignment function to monitor the Taiwan Strait for illegal immigration.

Promoting International Cooperation to Fight Crime at Sea

To prevent the inflow of guns and drugs and expand international communication channels, the administration has invited friendly nations to visit relevant units and provide training, and has participated in various law-enforcement conferences.

Expanding the Fishery Patrol Area to Demonstrate the Sea Law-Enforcement Effectiveness of the Forces

1. To maintain the sovereignty of the Nation's Exclusive Economic Seawaters, the administration has reinforced patrols at overlapping areas with neighboring Japan and the Philippines. In addition, the administration has also reinforced patrols at the northern and eastern seawaters based on the "Provisional Law-Enforcement Line" laid down by the Executive Yuan.
2. The administration conducts Northern Pacific Ocean Fishery Patrol/Protection Missions twice a year. In 2003, the administration sent fleets to carry out duties to the central and western regions of the Pacific Ocean. These served to demonstrate the law-enforcement capabilities of the Nation, enhanced relationships with ocean-faring fishing boats, and upheld the international duties of the Nation.

Using Pollution Prevention Facilities to Safeguard Marine Ecology and Environment

The administration acquired offshore protective clothing and oil-dredging machinery and distributed them to warehousing facilities nationwide for emergency use. Each year, the administration holds emergency response drills for protection of the ocean environment and resources.

Gradually Strengthening the Forces of Emergency Rescue and Upgrading the Effectiveness of Rescue Services

To strengthen the overall forces of rescue, the administration gradually reinforced rescue and life-saving training at all levels and units. In 2002, the administration finished 3 automatic re-balancing rescue boats and planned the design of one rescue ship for sea operations.

Drafting Security and Prevention Plans to Strengthen the Overall Response System

After the 9/11 incident in the US, the administration drafted the "Guidelines for Reinforced Terrorist Activity Security Maintenance" and "Organization and Operational Guidelines for the Anti-Terrorist Work Team", as well as planned emergency response programs for 14 possible scenarios.

Strengthening Personnel Training to Upgrade Execution Abilities

The administration has implemented training such as the "Coast Patrol Law-Enforcement Police Skill Training Program" and sent selected personnel to Europe, the US, and to learn sea rescue, ocean pollution prevention and management, and ocean environment conservation skills.

Extending the Scope of Civil Services and Implementing Convenient Measures

1. Infectious Disease Prevention:
1. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS):
1. During March 2003 when SARS broke out in the Nation, the administration enforced "Arrival Compulsory Quarantine Measures". To prevent the spread of diseases, the administration promulgated relevant regulations and set up a team for emergency response.
2. The administration implemented a full-scale "Disease Cleaning Program" and introduced 24-hour patrol duties at sea between Kinmen/Matzu and mainland China to ensure the disease was quarantined from the Nation.
2. Bird Flue:
1. To prevent the spread of disease, the administration co-opted units of the Council of Agriculture and formed the "Central Response Team for Prevention of Animal Disease" to enforce disease prevention missions.
2. Prevention of Bird Flue was conducted with reference to the SARS prevention model. The smuggling of a slaughtered animal was carried out in the Kinmen/Matzu area.
2. The Dedicated Report Line
The administration commenced the service of the three-digit "118" Coast Guard Report Service System, which is staffed by the Duty Command Center to provide the public the best services of disaster rescue and achieve the administration's goal of safeguarding the public's lives and property.
3. Reviewing Open Controlled Coast Areas and Promoting Water Recreation Activities
To realize the government’s aim of coastal tourism and recreation, the administration has re-zoned 14 controlled areas and 22 special controlled areas into 13 regular controlled areas and 15 special controlled areas to provide the public with more space for water-based activities.
4. To Pragmatically Implement Fishing Port Security Checks and Simplify Security Procedures
For the convenience of fishermen entering and exiting ports, the administration promulgated the "Implementation of Simplified Guidelines for Fishing Port Security Checks". The guidelines are expected to strengthen the skills of the security personnel and train the personnel with the "Know the Boat, Know the Person" skills that reinforce professionalism in the fields of intelligence collection, port patrol, and surveillance.
5. The administration has integrated and organized volunteer organizations and held "Coast Patrol Service Work Forums" nationwide to improve coastguard-fishermen relationships.
6. According to a survey commissioned by the administration and conducted by National Zhengzhi University and the Market Research Center, levels of satisfaction with the "Overall Administration and Work Performance" increased to 72.8% in 2003, up from 64.8% in 2002.