Testing of agro-products and irrigation water

The earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011 in Japan caused a major incident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. On March 24, the COA initiated nationwide testing in Taiwan of farm, fisheries, and animal husbandry products, and publicized the results on a regular basis. By June 5, we had collected 191 samples from seafood markets, 170 samples of seasonal fruits and vegetables, and 87 samples of dairy and meat products as well as of pasture grass. We also collected 61 samples of seawater (both at the surface and at depth) from eight testing points in the waters off of northeastern and eastern Taiwan. All test results met regulatory requirements. Moreover, starting March 18, we began conducting tests for radiation in the environment of main irrigation channels. Tests in all areas produced values of less than 0.2 uSv/hr, meeting regulatory standards. We also took 32 samples of irrigation water, and all tests showed no radiation pollution.

In May and again in July, the COA dispatched our own research vessel, the Shuishi No. 1, to take samples in saury fishing grounds. During these two trips the vessel took a total of 36 seawater samples, 13 samples of plankton, and 11 samples of catch. All tests results met regulatory requirements. Throughout both journeys the ship also tested atmospheric radiation; in no cases were warning levels exceeded. Thereafter we issued a set of regulations to be followed by all vessels going to the northern Pacific Ocean to fish for saury, requiring all fishing or carrier vessels returning to Taiwan to provide samples to the COA for testing for radiation. These steps not only alleviated concerns among consumers, but were also applauded by the international community, leading to the continued sales success that Taiwan saury has enjoyed in markets both at home and abroad.

Upholding the safety of fishing vessels

In order to protect our country’s fishing vessels, the COA, by consulting the Central Weather Bureau’s daily five-day forecasts for radiation release from Japan, and cross-checking these with the locations and headings of fishing vessels tracked by VMS, was able to individually notify all fishing-vessel captains whose boats were at risk of going into areas possibly affected by radiation leakage to exercise caution. During the period of radiation release, we made such notifications to 216 vessels.

Relieving excessive supply in the flower export market

Many operators in Taiwan’s flower export industry were adversely affected by the tsunami in Japan. The COA responded by taking a variety of measures to stimulate domestic demand and explore other foreign markets. Domestically, we held a series of activities that included sales of flowers to raise money for disaster relief, flower exhibitions, flower arranging classes, flower promotions for school graduation season, and use of flowers in home economics classes at farmers’ associations and in rural community activities. A total of 2.02 million cut flowers were sold in 755 rural communities and 202 township farmers’ associations. We also assisted flower businesses to participate in the 13th International Flower and Horticulture Expo in mainland China, held Internet marketing activities and sea-transport trials, and explored new foreign markets other than Japan for Oncidium orchids, flaming lilies, and Texas blue-bells (including mainland China, Singapore, Australia, Dubai, Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Belgium). A total of 800,000 cut flowers were exported in this way. Meanwhile, to help exporters with financing, we initiated emergency loan measures, approving loans totaling NT$14.9 million to three trading firms. In 2011, the total value of flower exports from Taiwan was US$175.93 million, an increase of 17.7% over the previous year, despite the disaster in Japan.

Establishing standard operating procedures for COA responses to earthquake and tsunami events

After the disaster in Japan, we created standard response procedures for earthquakes for the COA and all affiliated agencies. We created earthquake-response task forces with several functions: (a) to ensure that during normal times all mechanisms to minimize the impact of earthquakes are functioning properly, (b) to organize a rapid response when an earthquake strikes, and (c) to undertake post-disaster recovery and restoration after an earthquake. We likewise created standard response procedures for tsunamis for the COA and all affiliated agencies, and established tsunami-response task forces with functions parallel to those of the earthquake task forces.