South Penghu Marine National Park is the 9th national park and the 2nd marine national park established in Taiwan. The park includes traditional immigrant culture, terrain landscape and diverse ocean and island environments. Since South Penghu Four Islands are near to several international sea routes, debris such as fish nets, plastic bottles and Styrofoam is being abandoned into the ocean by boats. Debris is being washed up by wind and sea waves, and over time, huge amount of waste is affecting coastal landscape and the marine ecosystem.

In order to improve coastal environment and to protect marine ecosystem, Marine National Park Headquarters began to carry out a cleansing event after the sea condition is stabilized in May, 2018. First, on May 2, Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Coastal Patrols and NGOs carried out the cleansing event in Daping Coast, Dongjiyu. A total of 75 people participated in the event. 456.5 kilograms of ocean debris was shipped back to Taiwan main island for processing.

 

In addition, the team expanded the cleanup in the national park area, including the North of Dongyuping Port, the tetrapods in the West, the beach of Dongjiyu, the tide pools of Aloe Bay, the cliff of Dongjiyu Lighthouse and the South intertidal zone of Chutouyu (鋤頭嶼). The total cleansing area covers 20,469 square meters. 17,730 kilograms of ocean debris was shipped back to Taiwan main island for processing.

The ocean near Penghu Four Islands include diverse coral ecosystem and breathtaking Basalt landscape. They need to be taken care of by everyone. Considered of the inconveniency of garbage cleansing and transporting works to be done on the islands, please make sure you take away your own garbage while you’re paying them a visit. The less garbage you leave behind, the less pollution doing harm to the ocean and the creatures.