The Ministry of Agriculture issued a circular on January 14 urging all local fishing bureaus and departments to launch stringent checks on the quality of fishing boats now in operation in the wake of an increasing number of accidents.

Steel fishing boats over 20 years old, wooden boats over 15 years old, and imported fishing boats over 20 years old will no longer be operational.

Issuing licenses of fishing boat manufacturers will also be tightened, concentrating on boat assembling factories built on sand beaches.

The circular also states that that personnel engaged in inspecting fishing vessels must be qualified to carry out such work.