1. Ministry of Agriculture holds 2026 Animal Protection Challenge, announces top three winners

The Ministry of Agriculture held the final round of the “2026 Animal Protection Challenge”on October 4, World Animal Day, to promote animal protection education through an interactive format. The competition brought together 30 elementary school students in grades 3 to 6, selected from 1,448 applicants. Over 20 minutes of competition, participants answered animal protection questions while managing energy, choosing when to attack or defend, and using their knowledge to earn points. The top three winners were awarded prizes by Deputy Minister Tu Wen-chen. Chen Chung-hsing, deputy director-general of the Ministry’s Department of Animal Protection, said the competition marked not the end of animal protection learning, but the beginning of putting knowledge into practice. The ministry will continue to promote animal protection through digital learning, school education and diverse outreach programs, encouraging children to understand animals and make kind and responsible choices in their daily lives.
 

2. Fisheries Agency chief promotes safe, orderly recreational sea fishing

 Fisheries Agency Director-General Wang Mao-cheng said on October 2 that the agency is drafting a dedicated chapter on recreational sea fishing under the Fisheries Act to establish a streamlined legal framework for the growing activity while ensuring navigational and fisheries safety. Speaking at the opening of the Taiwan Fishing Tackle Exhibition, Wang said some fishing ports are already open to recreational fishing. The agency will work with local authorities and the private sector to gradually expand access to ports and explore recreational fishing around oyster rafts and set nets, as well as for Pacific bluefin tuna, with the goal of promoting legal, safe and orderly sea fishing.