Hunting Humphead Wrasse "by Rod and Line" Found Not Guilty — The Battle to Protect an Endangered Species, and Why the Law Falls Short

In February 2021, a resident of Orchid Island in Taitung was caught hunting a Humphead Wrasse, even giving a thumbs-up for a photo that was then posted to a LINE group used for buying and selling agricultural and fishing catches. After an investigation by prosecutors and police, the individuals involved were indicted for violating the Wildlife Conservation Act. The Taitung District Court has since issued its verdict — and both defendants were acquitted.

A rare and precious Humphead Wrasse had ended up as someone's catch, with what appeared to be wounds near the base of its pectoral fins — yet the charges could not stick due to insufficient evidence. Where has Taiwan's marine conservation law failed in the fight to protect endangered species?

Casting a Long Line — Can "Deliberate Poaching" of Humphead Wrasse Even Be Proven?

Reading the judgment closely, the key reason for the acquittal was the defendants' claim that they had been fishing at night using a rod and line with a long cast.

During the investigation, the Taitung District Court consulted the Ocean Conservation Administration, National Taiwan Ocean University, and the Taiwan Coral Reef Society to understand the habits of the Humphead Wrasse. Because the species is diurnal and rarely appears in shallow nearshore waters, the court concluded it was unlikely the fish could have been caught by "night shore fishing" — and went on to interpret this as evidence of "no clear criminal intent to illegally poach," resulting in an acquittal.

But what if the two men were not "deliberately fishing for Humphead Wrasse," but had caught one by some other means? Looking at the photos from that time, the man was wearing a wetsuit — hardly typical fishing attire — and the Humphead Wrasse at his feet appeared to bear injuries. Yet the ruling stopped at "not deliberately caught by rod and line."

No Speargun Found — The Death of a Humphead Wrasse Goes Unanswered

The poached Humphead Wrasse bore wounds near vital organs, including the heart and liver. However, the court noted that the fish itself had not been seized as evidence, and only an iron fork used for catching cuttlefish was found — making it impossible to determine from photographs alone that the fish had been killed by a sharp instrument.

This case illustrates just how difficult it is to gather evidence in the marine environment. If a poacher discards a speargun into the sea after making a catch, and the weapon cannot be retrieved, it becomes nearly impossible to secure a conviction — even when the fish bears obvious wounds. Posting photographs in a LINE group for buying and selling catches also proved insufficient grounds for penalties under the Wildlife Conservation Act.

Why Should the Humphead Wrasse Be Protected?

The Humphead Wrasse — commonly known as the Napoleon Wrasse, or in Mandarin as 龍王鯛 or 海哥龍王 — has the scientific name Cheilinus undulatus, and belongs to the class Actinopterygii, order Perciformes, suborder Labroidei, family Labridae.
According to surveys by the Taiwan Coral Reef Society, fewer than 30 Humphead Wrasse remain in the waters surrounding Taiwan — and the number continues to decline year by year. As a top-order predator that feeds primarily on crustaceans and mollusks, the Humphead Wrasse is a key species in the food chain and an indicator species for coral reef ecosystems. A continued decline in its numbers threatens the ecological balance of the entire marine environment.

The individual that was poached measured approximately 110 cm in length and weighed around 26 kg. Based on calculations from published research and FishBase data, it was estimated to be around 16–18 years old — a life cut short in the waters around Taiwan after so many years of growth.

The Humphead Wrasse's International Conservation Status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the Humphead Wrasse as an endangered species as early as 2004. The species is also protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), listed under Appendix II, and classified as a second-tier rare and precious wild animal in Taiwan — meaning that all ownership, management, and trade of the species are subject to regulation.

Beyond the Humphead Wrasse — Where Is the Marine Conservation Law They Depend On?

Taiwan is surrounded by ocean on all sides. Beyond raising public awareness of conservation, the country also needs marine conservation laws that can effectively deter misconduct. Without legislation and penalties that keep pace with the times, poaching incidents like this one may well continue to repeat themselves.

Further reading:

• Worried About Lights Misleading Sea Turtles, Australia's Heron Island Makes Turning Off the Lights a Community Norm — What About Xiaoliuqiu?
• A Deep Dive into Marine Protected Areas — Chaojing Beats Shen'ao! Uncovering the Differences in Management Measures and Enforcement Intensity
• Humphead Wrasse Poaching Incidents on Orchid Island and Green Island Keep Happening — What's the Root Cause?