The Marine National Park Headquarters, entrusted with conservation and environmental education responsibilities for Dongsha Atoll National Park, organized the “Earth Day – Clean Dongsha” event on April 21 (Wednesday) in observance of World Earth Day (April 22). In collaboration with various stationed units on Dongsha Island, the event called on the public to cherish the Earth and protect its “blue lifeline.” On the eve of Earth Day, personnel stationed on the island joined forces to clean Dongsha’s natural coastline, restoring the ocean’s beauty through collective effort.

Dongsha Atoll National Park is located in the northern South China Sea, positioned along a busy international shipping route and near important fishing grounds. Dongsha Island itself is formed from accumulated coral and shell fragments. Under clear skies, its white sandy beaches, blue ocean, and tropical vegetation create a naturally stunning landscape. However, fishing vessels from various countries often discard waste such as fishing gear, plastic bottles, and Styrofoam into the sea during operations. Influenced by monsoons, this drifting marine debris frequently washes ashore—especially during autumn and winter—accumulating in large quantities along the northern beaches.

Since the northeast monsoon subsided, Coast Guard personnel have been clearing beach debris for several consecutive weeks. This particular event focused on a 100-meter stretch of beach along the central section of Dongsha Island’s northern shore. Participating units included the Dongsha Coast Guard Command, the Dongsha Detachment of the Fifth Maritime Patrol Brigade, the Navy Dongsha Meteorological Station, and the Air Force Dongsha Airport Service Unit, among others.

The event took place on the afternoon of April 21 and was jointly directed by Deputy Director Cheng Chao-chia of the Headquarters and Commander Wang Chia-lin of the Dongsha Coast Guard Command. Nearly one hundred personnel—including Coast Guard members, Headquarters staff, and researchers and workers stationed on the island—participated in the cleanup. Over 700 kilograms of waste were removed, and all recyclable materials will be transported back to Taiwan for proper disposal.

Deputy Director Cheng noted that the event aimed not only to promote the significance of World Earth Day, but also to inspire people to take concrete action in caring for the ocean and to reflect on the causes of marine debris. By encouraging individuals to reduce waste generation at the source, and by strengthening cooperative partnerships with the Coast Guard during the cleanup process, the activity also laid a solid foundation for future conservation and management efforts within the national park.