The National Taiwan Ocean University's Department of Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science (EBFS), dedicated to cultivating fisheries management professionals, conducts an annual compulsory maritime internship program for its third-year undergraduate students. The 2022 internship program commenced on August 10th, led by Assistant Professor Lu, Ching-Ping (魯謹萍), with 40 students aboard the Fisheries Training Vessel No. 2, departing from Kaohsiung Chien-Chen Fishing Harbor and docking at Tokyo's Harumi Wharf from August 21st to 24th.

In a special show of support, Ambassador Frank Hsieh Chang-ting (謝長廷) from the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan personally boarded the ship on August 21st, accompanied by Director Lin, Chun- Shou (林春壽) of the Economic Division and Senior Secretary Wang, Chin-Yaw (王清要). He met with the students and encouraged them to apply the fisheries expertise they've acquired in their classes to real-world fisheries operations, including fishing, ocean observations, and maritime navigation.

Ambassador Hsieh expressed the significance of this opportunity, where students could combine their classroom knowledge with practical maritime training. He commended the students' proactive learning attitudes and welcomed them to visit and intern in Tokyo, where they could learn about Japan's strengths in fisheries research, development, and management, subsequently contributing their findings to Taiwan's fisheries sector. Ambassador Hsieh also presented local peaches to the students and emphasized the importance of safety during their voyage.

In a reciprocal gesture, the team from Taiwan's National Taiwan Ocean University, represented by Department Chair Lan, Kuo-Wei (藍國瑋) and Professor Wang, Chia-Hui (王佳惠) from the Department of EBFS, gifted Ambassador Hsieh with symbolic paperweights and insulating pads made from the department's historic marble wall. They also commemorated the occasion with photographs in the training room and alongside the ship.

 

Ambassador Hsieh especially to onboard visit to encourage NTOU's fisheries internship students

 

Throughout the internship, students from the Department of EBFS engaged in practical ocean observations and fishing processes. For instance, during tuna longline fishing, they first observed changes in the marine ecological environment, gaining insights into factors like temperature, depth, and salinity distributions. They then applied this knowledge to tasks such as baiting, casting, hoisting, catch handling, and line retrieval, enhancing their understanding of critical aspects of fishing operations. Additionally, students conducted nighttime squid fishing, capitalizing on squid's phototactic behavior by illuminating fish aggregating lights along the ship's side, making fishing operations more efficient.

To further motivate the students, Chair Lan, Kuo-Wei announced a special incentive, offering monetary rewards to the top three students with the most catches and the student with the largest catch. This move aimed to inspire students to achieve performance levels akin to professional fishermen.

Chair Lan, Kuo-Wei highlighted the department's role in nurturing fisheries management professionals who actively contribute to various national and regional fisheries administration units and industry organizations. He expressed hope that the students, through their on-board internship training, would develop independent personalities and the ability to overcome challenges. Ultimately, he anticipated their future contributions to Taiwan's sustainable fisheries development.

The voyage, which departed from Tokyo's Harumi Wharf, will make a stopover at Nagasaki Port from August 29th to 31st before returning to Taiwan, docking at Keelung Fisheries Research Institute Pier on September 5th, providing students with a comprehensive 27-day maritime experience.