Penghu Enters Two-week Octopus Moratorium

From www.etaiwannews.com, March 28
Written by Elizabeth Hsu

Fishermen in the Penghu archipelago off southwestern Taiwan have been banned from fishing for octopus along the coasts of the islands during the period between March 29 and April 12 in an effort to protect an indigenous variety of the species from extinction.
According to a statement from the Penghu county government, violators will be liable to fines of up to NT$30,000 (US$888).

According to research by the Penghu Marine Biology Research Center, the Penghu octopus -- an important species for Penghu's economy -- usually appear in intertidal zones from February to May to breed and spawn.

In its one-year lifespan, the species only mates and spawns once, with the female producing only around 20 eggs.

The species' biomass has dramatically decreased over the years due to over-fishing and typhoon damage to the coral reefs that serve as their breeding grounds.