Ban on sea urchin harvesting temporarily lifted in Penghu

Taipei, May 11 (CNA) The ban on the harvesting of sea urchins is to be temporarily lifted in Penghu from June 16 to August 31, the county's Agriculture and Fisheries said on Thursday.

However, catches must be limited to specimens larger than eight centimeters in diameter, officials added.

A ban on the harvesting of sea urchins has been in place in Penghu since last year due to low population count.

Since then, the island's residents have become more aware of the importance of sea urchin conservation.

Earlier on Wednesday, conservationists from a local marine foundation released 2,000 juvenile sea urchins measuring three to six centimeters into nearby waters at the southern Penghu marine national park.

With the protection of the park administration, the foundation said it hopes the urchin population will be able to flourish with minimum interference from local fishermen.

According to the county fisheries, anyone caught violating the ban will be subject to a fine of no more than NT$150,000 (US$4,865) and a maximum of three years imprisonment under the Fisheries Act.