臺灣魚苗漁業的發展與西南海岸之漁場慣行的實踐

Development of Taiwan’s Fry Fishery and Local Customary Practices of Fishing Grounds on Southwestern Coast

養殖漁業在臺灣已有數百年的歷史，對於臺灣農漁村的發展具有重要影響力。1980年代以前臺灣鹹水養殖漁業使用的水產種苗，多數來自天然環境下魚蝦貝類自行繁殖的幼苗。養殖漁業發達，也使得採捕魚苗成為臺灣一項重要且具特色的漁業活動。本文主旨闡述臺灣魚苗漁業的發展及其產業特色，也進一步分析西南海岸之魚苗漁場對當地漁村的意義與影響。
本文顯示魚苗漁業不只是沿海漁村重要生計來源，也常吸引許多業餘捕撈魚苗之民眾參與捕苗活動，是1980年代前臺灣廣泛盛行的漁業活動。但對西南海岸漁村來說，魚苗漁場的經營及其慣行的實踐，更是形塑、支撐當地村落共同體的重要力量之一，不僅是村民維繫家庭經濟的依賴，也是將漁村和所有村民緊密連結的利益紐帶。因有助於西南海岸漁村社會的穩定，即使1913年臺灣實施漁業規則後未能將其納為漁業權之一，執政者仍默認此一法外慣行的存續，甚至協助維持。以致直到今天－仍有若干漁村持續施行此慣行。由此顯示在現代法治社會中若干仍殘存於農漁村之慣行，實有其不可忽視的現實價值與社會意義。

Aquaculture in Taiwan has a history spanning several centuries and has played a significant role in shaping the development of rural agricultural and fishing communities. Prior to the 1980s, most of the fish, shrimp, and shellfish fry used in aquaculture were collected from natural environments, where these species reproduced on their own. With aquaculture flourishing, the capture of fish fry emerged as an important and distinctive fishery activity. This paper examines the historical development and industrial characteristics of Taiwan’s fish fry fisheries and analyzes the significance and impacts of fry-fishing grounds along the island’s southwestern coast on local fishing villages.
Findings reveal that fish fry fishery was not only a crucial source of livelihood for coastal fishing communities but also a popular activity that drew widespread participation from local residents. For fishing villages along the southwestern coast, the management of fry-fishing grounds and the practice of customary norms were vital forces that shaped and sustained the local communal order. These practices provided not only as an economic foundation for household subsistence but also fostered social ties that bound villagers together through shared interests and cooperative arrangements.
These customary systems contributed to the social stability of coastal communities. Thus, even after the promulgation of the Fisheries Regulations in 1913, the authorities tacitly allowed such extralegal practices to continue, and at times even helped maintain them. This demonstrates that certain customary practices embedded in rural agricultural and fishing societies still hold substantial social and practical relevance, even within a modern legal framework.