University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2017 Selling Fish across the Strait: Taiwanese Aquaculture, Trade Governance, and Sustainability Cheng, Siu Kei Cheng, S. K. (2017). Selling Fish across the Strait: Taiwanese Aquaculture, Trade Governance, and Sustainability (Unpublished doctoral thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27747 http://hdl.handle.net/11023/4062 doctoral thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Selling Fish across the Strait: Taiwanese Aquaculture, Trade Governance, and Sustainability by Siu Kei Cheng A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ANTHROPOLOGY CALGARY, ALBERTA SEPTEMBER, 2017 © Siu Kei Cheng 2017 Abstract This research examines how Taiwanese fish farmers have globalized their farmed seafood and pursued sustainable aquaculture since 1968, the year that Taiwan succeeded in artificially propagating tiger prawns ( Penaeus monodon ). My key question is whether and how the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA)—a bilateral free trade agreement signed by Taiwan and China in 2010—affects Taiwanese fish farmers. In this agreement, China made concessions by eliminating tariffs on the enlisted Taiwanese seafood products, focusing primarily on grouper (Ephinephelus ) and milkfish ( Chanos chanos ). My analysis is based on an integrated approach that combines political ecology and governance. I argue that although the ECFA fuelled cross-strait economic cooperation between 2011 and 2015, exporting seafood to China was not the only strategy Taiwanese fish farmers used to respond to globalization and to pursue sustainable aquaculture. In fact, even before the ECFA was signed, Taiwanese fish farmers had enhanced their environmental management and food safety practices. They continuously developed new categories and marketed their seafood in diverse markets, including Taiwan’s domestic market. The ECFA had five significant impacts on Taiwanese aquaculture: First, Taiwanese fish farmers and business people could now use both normal and petty trade routes to export seafood to China, which they decided on by calculating their costs and benefits. Second, China’s policies and strategies, such as sponsoring a five-year milkfish trade contract in Taiwan and establishing a domestic anti-corruption policy, affected the export volume and farm-gate price of Taiwanese milkfish and grouper. Third, the Taiwanese government further strengthened its regulation of the seafood transport and food safety aspects of Taiwanese aquaculture. Fourth, Taiwanese fish farmers who sustained their businesses by selling seafood to the domestic market or other export markets were less influenced by the ECFA than other fish farmers who exported most of their products (such as grouper) to China between 2011 and 2015. Taiwanese fish farmers responded to the changing seafood trade policies and global food safety concerns by strengthening the existing markets, exploring new markets, selecting seafood species, processing the raw fish into other products, and developing more ecological farming practices. ii Preface This thesis is original and independent work by the author, Cheng, Siu Kei. The research is covered by Ethics Certificate number REB13-1021, issued by Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board. Portions of Section V of Chapter Four include data presented in Cheng (2016) published by Asia Pacific Viewpoint . iii Acknowledgements This dissertation could not have been completed without the generous help from a number of people and institutions. First and foremost, my long, though undisclosed, list of enthusiastic and knowledgeable Taiwanese interlocutors provided me with their unconditional care and teaching during each of my stays in Taiwan. They made me determined to complete this dissertation. Without losing my identity as a researcher, I am incredibly fortunate to become friends with many Taiwanese, as well as a family member of my host family, an apprentice of fish farming, and a well-received community member in Simu village and Budai Township. I also want to thank all the institutions and companies mentioned in this dissertation. The Jianan Cultural Association is one of many institutions that provided rich information and a network for me to learn about Taiwan’s history and society. Our great conversations were accompanied by starry nights and sea breezes, along with delicious local seafood and fruit, and the wonderful Taiwanese tea and beer. The associates of various communities and institutions made me always feel that south and southwest Taiwan, especially the beautiful Chiayi County, was my home. Without a doubt, my interlocutors are genuine experts on Taiwanese aquaculture and many other fields. Many faculty members at the University of Calgary deserve thanks. Dr. Josephine Smart, my dissertation supervisor, gave me honest and constructive advice on how I can grow as a professional researcher and scholar. Drs. Alan Smart and Chui-ling Tam, the other supervisory committee members, broadened and deepened my exposure to various theories and methodologies beyond anthropology. My thesis committee always encouraged me to complete this research project, contribute to knowledge, and create social and policy impacts. Other faculty members in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, including but not limited to Drs. Saulesh Yessonova, Christopher Holdsworth, Charles Mather, Linda Fedigan, Cesar Appentiik, Sabrina Paric, and Naotaka Hayashi, guided me as I went through each challenge in this doctoral program. Dr. Mary Pavelka, Dr. Pascale Sicotte, and the department’s administrative officers provide tremendously useful advice and assistance. From other departments and universities, Drs. Byron Miller, David Wright, Shaobao Guo, Joseph iv Bosco, and Shelley Alexander played important roles as instructors and examiners, providing me with critical comments to strengthen the quality of this dissertation. A number of scholars generously made time for me to discuss my ideas, proposals, dissertation, presentations, and publications: Drs. Andrea Ballestero, Francesca Bray, Yuk-wah Chan, Chien-yuan Chen, Li-hsuan Cheng, Ju-chen Chen, Nancy Chen, Sidney Cheung, Siu-woo Cheung, Jennifer Greenburg, Amy Hauser, Sana Ho, Kuo-hsin Hsieh, Yueh-shuen Hsueh, Shu- mei Huang, Yu Huang, Shaw-wu Jung, Jakob Klein, Kun-hui Ku, Andre Laliberte, I-chiu Liao, Yi-chieh Lin, Chi-wei Liu, Mike Liu, Tik-sang Liu, Xiao-hua Liu, Jiang-xiong Ma, Mei-ling Pang, Bill Pitchard, Karen Sykes, Stephanie Scott, Scott Simon, Charles Shong, Ping-ceng Tseng, Peter Vandergeest, Robert Weller, Wing-ho Wong, Shuenn-der Yu, and Willa Zhen. I owe them all great debts and hope to repay their generosity by becoming a passionate public intellectual, just as they themselves are. I am dedicated to a long list of peers all over the world, who never lost their faith in me. To name some of them: Megan Alyward, Adam Benfer, McKenzie Bergstrom, Angel Chan, Ray Chan, Tracy Chan, Chia-hsiang Chen, Kelly Chapeskie, Christopher Cheng, Ken Cheuk, Kragen Chien, Angela Crotte, Natashe Dekker, Colin Dubreuil, Matthew Esau, Julie Finlay, Stephanie Fox, Kayla Hartwell, Carmen Ho, Jeremy Hogan, Sheila Holmes, Theresa Holmes, Ting-cun Kuo, Kim Edwards, Camille Lam, Siu-kit Lam, Carl Lau, Hoi-lung Lau, Christopher Laurent, Lucia Liu, Frances Lo, Loretta Lou, Matt Ma, Xiao Ma, Tatenta Mambo, Ana Morales, Monica Myers, Chuen-yan Ng, Megan Ng, Raymond Poon, Amy Rudkoski, Eddie Schmitt, Jenny Shaw, Ping Shu, Adarlard Tang, Loretta Tam, Lauren Tognela, Cara Tremain, Tiffany Tsai, Arvid Van Dam, Josie Vayro, Jason Wei, Catherine Wen, Matt West, Sophie Wu, Ying-qing Wu, Miche Xu, Zhidan Yan, and Ray Yeung. Vincent Cheung, Xavier Lau, Wai-lun Ho, Kingston Keung, Kenneth Ng, David Yau, and Andy Yuen provided tremendous support to my family during my absence from home. I owe so much to you all. Serving as a core committee member of the North American Taiwan Studies Association has been the fondest part of my life as a doctoral student. I can only name a few but not all of my fantastic collaborators and friends in this helpful community of junior and promising scholars: Yu-hui Chang, Insky Chen, Spencer Chen, Fang-yu Chen, Ru-yun Chiang, Ching-fang Hsu, Szu- yun Hsu, Phin-tsi Ki, Dr. Chris Liang, Meng-shin Liu, Yi-zhen Lo, Kevin Luo, Chi-ting Peng, v Dr. Puma Shen, Dr. Derek Sheridan, Hsin-wei (Ya-lan) Tseng, Dr. Elu Tu, Feng-en Tu, Austin Wang, Lawrence Yang, Hsin-hung Yeh, Dr. Laura Wen, Chieh-ju Wu, Dr. Dominic Yang, and Yvonne Yo. We had two wonderful seafood tours in my fieldsite, where I proudly showed everyone “what the authentic Taiwan is.” As a program committee co-chair, I am honoured to have worked with the organizing committee of the 12th annual assembly of Canadian Association for Food Studies, especially Margaret Bancerz, Dr. Kathleen Kevany, and Dr. Fiona Yeudall, who showed me the kindness of Canadian food scholars. We successfully held this important meeting for Canadian food