1. New Horizon of Ocean

The ocean is just like an affectionate mother, tightly embracing Taiwan. Years after years of selfless dedication, the ocean has left daily necessities and brilliant cultures to Taiwan. Our concept of the ocean is that the ocean is bountiful, and our demanding and taking from the ocean is endless and unlimited. Now it is time for us to remorse, repeatedly remorse, and taking active protective actions, to enable sustainability of ocean Taiwan, in sustaining our life, livelihood and culture.

Let us look at the ocean from another angle. While we are approaching the next generation of ocean, we should be able to protect our motherly ocean from a new horizon and touching heart.

2. Multifunction of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Discovery of New Marine Life
The mysterious blue planet is the cradle of life, where numerous beautiful lives are bred. Life in the ocean keeps on changing and evolving. The ocean will at any time give us the joy of finding a new species, and the thrill of exploring life. In Taiwan’s MPAs, new marine life has been found, and it has to be protected.

Crustaceans

Lintou Crab
Scientific Name: Scandarmalintou
Nomenclator: Schubart, Liu and Cuesta
Year published: 2003
Distribution: Hengchun Peninsular and east coast of Taiwan, the Philippines

Catharine Tidal Crab
Scientific Name: Ucajocelynae
Nomenclator: Shih, Naruse and Ng
Year published: 2010
Distribution: Found in Magong in New Taipei City, Yilan County, Doulan Bay in Taitung County, Hengchun and Checheng in Pingtung County, Tainan County and Penghu County.
Ecological characteristic: Inhabits in the holes of intertidal terrain, feeds on organic substance in the sandy mud.

Turtle-look Square Crab
Scientific Name: Xenograpsus testudinatus
Nomenclator: Ng, Huang and Ho
Year published: 2000
Distribution: Waters around Guishan Island, Taiwan
Ecological characteristic: Inhabits in waters 20 to 200 m. deep near seabed volcanic thermal vents around Guishan Island, also called “Sulfur Square Crab”. Inhabits in normal water temperature near high temperature water, and when there are scattering of snowflake-like zooplanktons killed by the water from hot springs, the crabs will aggregate for feeding, forming a rare wonder.

Lukang Mud Shrimp – Delicious Mud Shrimp
Scientific Name: Austinogebiaedulis
Nomenclator: Ngoo-Ho and Chan
Year published: 1992
Distribution: Inhabits in the sandy and muddy intertidal terrains along the western coast of Taiwan, Penghu and Vietnam, most abundant in Lukang and its vicinity in Changhua County.
Ecological characteristic: Inhabits in muddy holes, average berried more than 500 eggs. Slow growing after shelling, life span estimated to be about 5 years. This is a rare species of mud shrimp, and named in accordance with the characteristic of its economic delicacy.

Fish

Slim Spotted Seabass
Scientific Name: Plectranthias elongates
Nomenclator: Kao-Yi Wu, John E. Randall, and Jen-Ping Chen
Year published: 2011
Area found: Found in 2004, in waters off Xingda Port, at 22°41.566'N, 119°54.085'E, about 243 m. deep, taking one sample by bottom trawl. Very rare and there was no other sample taken.

Yellow Spotted Seabass
Scientific Name: Plectranthias xanthomaculatus
Nomenclator: Kao-Yi Wu, John E. Randall, and Jen-Ping Chen
Year published: 2011
Area found: Found in 2002, in waters off Xingda Port, at 22°42.64'N, 119°51.70'E, about 200-223 m. deep, taking one sample by bottom trawl. Very rare and there was no other sample taken.
Ecological characteristic: Inhabits in deeper water of reef and sandy sea bottom, with undulated feature.

Taiwanese Lizard Fish
Scientific Name: Synodus taiwanensis
Nomenclator: Jen-Ping Chen, Hsuan-Ching Ho, and Kwang-Tsao Shao
Year published: 2007
Area found: Caught by hook and line vessel in Kending area, rare species
Ecological characteristic: Inhabits in area of sandy bottom with water 50-100 m. deep. Usually stops on the sandy ground, waiting to feed on small fish or shrimps.

Silky fin Goby
Scientific Name: Ctenogobiops mitodes
Nomenclator: John E. Randall, Kwang-Tsao Shao, and Jen-Ping Chen
Year published: 2007
Area found: Found in the Western Pacific, and documented finding in Bali, Dongsha Islands, Taiwan, and Okinawa, Japan. Rarely found species.
Ecological characteristic: Inhabits in sandy ground near reef areas with water 10-25 m. deep, co-exists with snapping shrimp.

Shrimp goby
Scientific Name: Amblyeleotris bleekeri
Nomenclator: I-Shiung Chen, Kwang-Tsao Shao, and Jen-Ping Chen
Year published: 2006
Area found: Found in northern part of Taiwan. Rarely found species.
Ecological characteristic: Inhabits in sandy ground near reef areas with water of 10-30 m. deep, co-exists with snapping shrimp.
Source of information: Jen-Ping Chen

Alga

Grateloupia huangiae (Common name unknown)
Scientific Name: Grateloupia huangiae
Nomenclator: Lin S.-M. and Liang H.-Y.
Year published: 2011
Distribution: Widely distributed, found in Kenting National Park, along the coast of southwestern Taiwan and northeast coast of Taiwan.
Ecological characteristic: Usually found in winter or spring season, in rocky areas with impacting waves, mostly 1 m. below tidal belt.

Izziella kurosioensis (Common name unknown)
Scientific Name: Izziella kurosioensis
Nomenclator: Lin S.-M., S.-Y. Yang, and Huisman
Year published: 2011
Distribution: Mainly in Kenting National Park
Ecological characteristic: Usually found in winter or spring season, in rocky areas with impacting waves, mostly 1 m. below tidal belt.

Martensia formosana (Common name unknown)
Scientific Name: Martensia formosana
Nomenclator: Lin S.-M., M.H. Hommersand and S. Fredericq
Year published: 2004
Distribution: Mainly in Kending National Park
Ecological characteristic: Usually found in winter or spring season, in calm rocky areas, mostly 1-2 m. below tidal belt.
Source of Information: S.M. Lin

3. Enriching New Marine Life

From the indigenous peoples to our forefathers coming to Taiwan crossing the sea, the people of Taiwan have long been using the resources of the ocean. Through clothing, food, housing and recreation, utilization of different marine resources in everyday necessities, the ocean has enriched our life.

Experiencing the Unique Eco-tourism in Fangyuanwanggong
Fangyuanwanggong is the origin of Taiwan’s oyster farming. Its over 300 years of history of oyster farming has closely weaven together oyster with the life of local people. Following the booming trend of eco-tourism, oyster farmers here began chasing buffalo cart into the sea, turning buffalos to sea ox, not only bringing back loads of oysters with happiness, but also load of joy. Apart from exploring the sea on buffalo carts, visitors can also experience the joy of searching for mud shrimps and oyster art, understanding the richness of the sea, combining education and recreation, and returning home fully loaded.

Enjoying the touring of fish ponds in Aogu and fishing villages in Sigu

Aogu Wetland was shore side land reclaimed by Taiwan Sugar Corporation during the 1960s. It became coastal newborn land for agriculture use such as, the plantation of sugar cane, rice and cattle rearing. Later due to salinization of soil caused by land subsiding, it gradually became wetland with rich ecological resources. It is one of the three locations of large-scale flatland forest where the Forestry Bureau, COA has been promoting. The ecologies of forest and wetland have attracted domestic birds, and migratory birds to rest and feed when transiting Taiwan. In 2011, this beautiful flat forestland was surprisingly turned into a wonder. Chiayi Administration Office of the Forestry Bureau, National Sun Yat-sen University, and people of the Sigu Community jointly completed the “Aogu Wetland Forest Park”. It won the 2011 ASLA professional award on analysis and planning category from the American Society of Landscape Architects. As such, Aogu which was originally used as fish pond, has surprisingly become a wetland with rich ecology, and now it is a hotspot for eco-tourism, a place for experiencing clam picking, angling and rowing.

Buffalo cart and sea ox have made buffalo cart eco-tour in oyster field the most popular way of experiencing in Fangyuan
Field Trip of Students Eco-tour with Buffalo Cart in Oyster Farming
Teaching how to gather oysters
Mud shrimp expert demonstrating the way to dig mud shrimp
Rowing on fish pond
Enjoying the fun in fish pond

4. Creation of New Marine Culture

It is incredible that oyster shells can form vivid portraits
Art piece of black-faced spoonbill made of oyster shells

The use of marine resources not only can satisfy our daily need, but can also enrich our culture. For example, precious corals are materials for Buddhism’s religious objects; shells were materials for ancient shell money and now materials for art pieces. Furthermore, Mazu has already become our reverent patron goddess of the sea. These cultures originating from the ocean resources imply the meaning of protection.

 

DIY piece from clamshell
Horseshoe clam has formed part of our life, becoming art pieces close to nature

Annual Mackerel Festival in Nanfang’ao
President Ma participated in eye opening ceremony of Mazu statue made of precious coral