Serious biological and economic implications lay in store for Taiwan if overfishing is permitted to continue in the seas surrounding the island, according to a report on coral reef ecology released Dec. 26.
Despite the seemingly healthy condition of Taiwan’s coral reefs, the reduced presence of sea life is a telling indicator that all is not well with local marine ecosystem, the Taiwan Environmental Information Association study stated.
“The dwindling number of edible fish and exhaustion of marine stocks has created a vicious circle in which fishermen spent more time and energy on the job with no proportionate increase in catches,” TEIA Secretary-General Chen Juei-pin said.
“This development has grave implication for the country’s ecology, fisheries and tourism. We urge the government to designate protected marine areas and improve enforcement of protection laws.”
Conducted with the assistance of volunteer divers over the past year, the annual study showed that coral coverage is highest off Green Island’s Gui Bay, while Bitou Jiao in northeastern Taiwan is the worst.
Allen Chen, director of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network’s Taiwan chapter, attributed the favorable condition of Green Island to fewer visitors and less pollution. But the reduced number of fish and invertebrate species, such as giant groupers, lobsters and sea urchins, in its waters was reason for concern, he added.
“Fewer fish make for an alarming imbalance in the food chain of coral reef habitats,” he said. “Without rapid intervention, this will have long-term effects that may prove irreversible.” (JSM)