Taipei, Nov. 9 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian on Saturday urged the aquaculture industry to cooperate with the restaurant and travel sectors to promote the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry.
Chen made the speech at a grouper promotion activity, part of a marine culture festival sponsored by Kaohsiung County in Yungan Village.
The president noted that nearby Pingtung County invested NT$12 million (US$342,857) in a recent black tuna festival, and enjoyed a return of NT$1.5 billion.
He expressed the hope that the Kaohsiung county government and fishery association can work together to plan for a similar "midas touch" for such promotions.
Chen said that even though the coastal areas of Kaohsiung County are major aquaculture grounds in Taiwan, this is the first time that five coastal townships have held a marine culture festival.
Yungan Township chief Kuo Ching-hua said that the town has raised groupers for 20 years in an area of more than 300 hectares. The production value of the groupers reached NT$2.5 billion (US$71.42 million) in 1996 at its peak, with most of the fish exported to mainland China and Hong Kong.
But after Taiwan's entry into the World Trade Organization this year, competition has become fiercer, so that promotional activities are needed to give a shot in the arm to the aquaculture industry.
Chen later attended a floral show in Kaohsiung City, during which he also stumped for Mayor Frank Hsieh of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, the incumbent who is seeking re-election Dec. 7, lauding him as the best man for the port city.
Hsieh said that most of Taiwan's international flower shows are held in northern Taiwan and that Saturday's event was the first to take place in southern Taiwan. The one-month show, covering eight hectares, is expected to create hundreds of job opportunities.