The United Nations Environment Programme has stated that “the planet is experiencing a dangerous decline in nature as a result of human activity.” If we look carefully at the Aichi Biodiversity Targets set at the tenth Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10) in 2010, we can see that less than 30% of the 20 targets have been met.
Did you know that a milkfish has 222 bones? This species is nonetheless popular among ordinary Taiwanese, and is part of a well-developed industry value chain. From the development of milkfish aquaculture to its place on the dining table, Taiwanese use milkfish to the fullest, from head to tail.
Taiwan is surrounded by sea, and the ocean is not only our most familiar neighbor but also a natural seafood refrigerator, with fish following ocean currents to our island 365 days a year. One way to catch them is by set-net fishing, in fishing grounds that have been established in our coastal areas for many years.
Oyster farming in Taiwan has a history of over 300 years, and has provided livelihoods to many households along the Southwest Coast. Dongshi Township in Chiayi County is especially well known throughout Taiwan for its oysters, and has the highest production volume on the island.
Have you ever arrived at a harborside seafood restaurant for a meal, looked over the offerings laid out on the ice, and discovered that you don’t recognize most of the dozens of sea creatures on display?
Taiwan is blessed with a great wealth of marine resources. With access to more than 1,000 seafood species that vary with the season and locale, it’s no surprise that Taiwanese consumers are familiar with only a small percentage of them!
Heping Bridge in Northern Taiwan’s Keelung City straddles the narrow Bachimen Channel, providing access to the islet that lies nearest the main island of Taiwan. The distance is less than 100 meters.
You would think that Heping Island was entirely cut off from the civilized world before the bridge was built. But far from representing an insurmountable barrier, the surrounding sea actually enabled the island’s transformation into a bustling base of operations during the Age of Sail.
Worldwide there are 12 species of billfish—a group of large predatory fish whose upper jaws bear a long, bony spear- or sword-shaped bill. They include marlins, spearfish and sailfish (family Istiophoridae), as well as swordfish (family Xiphiidae). In different seasons of the year, six species of these fast-swimming fish follow the Kuroshio Current into the waters around Taiwan.
This year, the Northern Hemisphere experienced an exceptionally hot summer, with Europe, Asia, and North America sweltering under scorching heatwaves. To highlight the urgency of the climate crisis, UN secretary-general António Guterres has declared the arrival of the “era of global boiling.”
The maritime literature author Liao Hung-chi called it “a rapid knife in the ocean.” It also had a cameo role in the film Life of Pi, where it glistened with a glossy golden-yellow hue. At one time, Taiwan ranked second in the world for its annual catch of this fish, and today it still accounts for some 10% of global production. Over 80% of the Taiwanese catch is exported to the US.
In an era of accelerated economic development, there are many people who choose to move in the opposite direction and dedicate themselves to nature conservation work. Among the methods they use, the “public environmental trust,” which ensures a long-term future for conservation, is the finest form of covenant between humans and nature.
