There are four conservation areas in New Taipei City. Yehliu Conservation Area is completely closed to harvesting and capture while Wanli, Ruifang and Gongliao Conservation Areas are subject to restrictions on harvesting and capture. For species such as lobsters, sea urchins, abalone and coral reef fish, restrictions are imposed on the length of the fish that can be harvested. For algae species such as gelidium and eucheuma, restrictions are imposed on the harvesting period. The harvesting of giant tritons, corals and reefs is completely prohibited. In addition, the use of diving equipment and fishing gear is prohibited in the conservation areas.
To fortify the conservation of fishery resources, the New Taipei City Government has announced that as of January 1, 2021, in addition to the original ban on the harvesting of lobsters under 20 centimeters, the harvesting of lobsters in the conservation areas of Wanli, Ruifang and Gongliao will be prohibited from March 1 to July 31 each year. In addition to the original ban on the harvesting of sea urchins less than 8 centimeters long exclusive of the spiny test, the harvesting of collector urchins is prohibited from September 1 each year to June 15 of the following year. The original ban on the harvesting of abalone under 4 centimeters has been adjusted to under 5 centimeters.
The Fisheries Office said that marine biological resources need to be maintained by everyone, and that the most basic function of the conservation areas is only to provide a place for creatures to inhabit and reproduce. It is further expected that the spillover from the conservation areas to the nearby waters will replenish the marine biological resources in the future.