The most enchanting feature of Dongsha lies in its ocean and coral reefs. Dongsha Atoll is Taiwan’s only atoll landscape and a site of world-class natural heritage value. It takes corals millions of years to form an atoll, and the nearly perfect circular shape of Dongsha’s atoll makes it especially rare and precious. The vast structural complexity of coral reefs provides habitat for a rich diversity of marine life and constitutes a vital component of the marine ecosystem.
Most corals release mature sperm and eggs at a fixed time each year. Fertilization occurs in the open sea, where the embryos develop into planktonic coral larvae that drift until they settle in suitable locations to begin a new life. To increase the chances of fertilization, corals release hundreds of thousands of eggs at a time. As a result, the most spectacular annual event on coral reefs is coral spawning. In southern Taiwan waters, coral spawning typically occurs during the third and fourth months of the lunar calendar—usually in late spring to early summer—on nights following the full moon. When countless bundles of colorful eggs are released into the deep blue sea, they resemble a vibrant meteor shower underwater, creating a breathtaking natural spectacle.
The Headquarters was established in 2007 and is responsible for the management of Dongsha Atoll, with goals focused on ecological conservation, resource restoration, and environmental monitoring. Based on previous observations, coral spawning in Dongsha waters most often occurs around the 23rd day of the third lunar month. Although coral spawning follows a general cycle, it remains impossible to predict the exact date with precision. Long-term research by scholars indicates that spawning timing is influenced by various environmental factors such as light intensity, tides, and seawater temperature. To document this important natural event, stationed personnel began continuous monitoring of water temperature and coral spawning conditions in mid-April this year. After several days of observation, they finally captured footage of coral spawning near Dongsha Island at 9:20 p.m. on May 5. All personnel involved in the survey were especially excited upon witnessing this mysterious reproductive phenomenon firsthand.
