Barway Approaches: Hualien Harbor Boats Secured, Fixed-Net Yellowtail Season Ends Early

As Typhoon Barway approaches, Hualien Harbor has mobilized its fishing fleet, securing nearly 400 vessels of all sizes. The precautionary measures involve extensive use of ropes and lines, creating a complex network described as a "spider web" across the harbor. Larger boats, such as whale-watching vessels and fixed-net fishing boats, are being lashed together in groups, forming what are being called "chain ships." This method aims to prevent them from colliding with each other or the shore as large waves are expected to enter the harbor.

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Barway typhoon is expected to bring long swells into the fishing harbor this afternoon. This morning, the entire harbor mobilized to secure the port, making it look like a crisscrossing spider web formation, hoping to be fully prepared.

Hualien District Fishermen's Association Chairman Wang Deng-yi stated that the typhoon is anticipated to bring significant long swells into the harbor starting this afternoon. He emphasized the need for thorough preparation, noting that Barway is an unusually large typhoon not seen in many years. The fishermen began their typhoon preparations early this morning, starting at 6 a.m.

The fixed-net fishing operations, which had already suffered significant damage during the 2022 earthquake due to seabed anomalies, are taking extra precautions. Operators have begun pulling their nets ashore, with 10 sets of nets from various locations already brought onto land. This proactive measure is to prevent the nets from being damaged by the typhoon's strong waves. The earthquake caused an estimated loss of hundreds of millions of New Taiwan dollars due to broken anchor lines and the need for equipment replacement.

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The typhoon will bring large waves from the Pacific Ocean into Hualien Harbor, causing significant surges. Barway is a super typhoon not seen in many years. We estimate that long swells from the outer sea will begin to cross the dike and flood into the harbor this afternoon.

Huang Jian-wei, owner of Dongchang Fixed-Net Fishery, noted that the yellowtail season, which typically runs through June and July, has been cut short. With the typhoon hitting at the start of the summer vacation, they have had to end their fishing operations early. They plan to redeploy their nets in September, after the typhoon season has passed. The early closure means they will miss out on several fishing opportunities for yellowtail.

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Goodbye to yellowtail, we'll catch them next year. We will redeploy the nets in September after the typhoon season passes.