Page 47 - An Overview of Penghu

Aquaculture

Ÿ Fishery

Production in 1931 accounted for 495,385 Taiwanese yen, and 25,438 people worked in the
industry (according to statistics concluded at the end of 1930). There were 1,346 Chinese-style
fishing boats (according to statistics concluded at the end of 1930), the main type used by fishermen,
and 67 engine-powered vessels. For the future development of fishery here, the most imperative
tasks with which the government should deal include building ports and harbors of refuge, teaching
people how to build fishing vessels, and installing transportation and storage units for fresh fish.
Red sea breams made up the biggest share of catch by generating 102,268 Taiwanese yen, followed
by kuchibi Pacific yellowtail emperor Pagrus, etrumeus micropus, Japanese seerfish, pomfrets, red
flying squids, sharks, Niphon spinosus, round shrimps, and skipjack tuna, all of which created over
10,000 Taiwanese yen of revenue. Exports in 1931 reached 483,408 kg, bringing in revenue of
131,508 Taiwanese yen.

Ÿ Fish processing

Cooked dried etrumeus micropus took up the largest share of aquaculture products, generating
26,523 Taiwanese yen, followed by peeled shrimps (worth 12,562 Taiwanese yen) and red sea bream
floss (earning revenue of 11,973 Taiwanese yen). There were other products as well, such as fish
cakes, veggie dried etrumeus micropus, processed red sea breams, and processed shrimps, but
together, they only accounted for 99,479 Taiwanese yen in 1931. Since there was still plenty of
room for improvement, the government hired professionals from Japan to organize workshops on
refining processed goods. It also actively helped people develop new products, hoping to rake in
more profits through the industry.

Ÿ Aquafarming:

Aquafarming is the weakest industry in the Prefecture. It can hardly be identified as an
industry, as people are only using part of the reclamation land to keep red sea breams and shrimps.
There is a necessity to study the use of marshes in the future.

Ÿ Fishery groups:

There are the Penghu Prefectural Fishery and Aquaculture Association and four fishery
cooperatives in the Prefecture. The Association was originally set up as the Penghu Aquaculture
Association in August 1910; it was later affiliated with the Kaohsiung Prefecture Aquaculture
Association before finally settling down as the Penghu Prefectural Fishery and Aquaculture
Association in January 1927. It held a capital worth 28,434.59 Taiwanese yen in January 1932. The
budget of 19,475 Taiwanese yen and revenue of 20,154 Taiwanese yen from the special fish market
in the previous year provided significant help to the prefectural government as it instructed
businesses.

Fishery cooperatives, which are in charge of selling fish catches and processed goods, were
established in major fishing villages, such as Suoguan Port of Magong Town, Jiangjunao and Shuian
of Wangan Village, and Neian of Xiyu Village. The cooperatives are also responsible for promoting
fishery, offering disaster relief, and providing loans (services at the Neian Fishery Cooperative are
currently on hold). Although they have just been shortly established, they appear to be relatively
passionate about their operations and have obtained good results. The industry's development will
rely on these cooperatives, which is why the prefectural government is putting much effort into
instructing them, hoping to reap maximal benefit from it.

33