Algal reef threatened by CPC pipeline project

The largest algal reef in Taiwan is seriously threatened by a natural gas pipeline construction project of state-owned CPC Corp, Taiwan, local ecologists said yesterday.

The 4km-long, 500m-wide algal reef located along the east coast between Hsiaofanli Creek (小飯壢溪) and Hsinwu Creek (新屋溪) in Taoyuan County has existed there for 2,200 years to 6,000 years, the Endemic Species Research Institute said.

The algal reefs are formed by crystalline calcium carbonates left by dead calcareous algae, institute researchers said.

Slow growth rate

The rarity of algal reefs, especially vast ones, is caused by their extremely slow growth rate, which is usually 0.1cm to 0.2cm per year, the researchers said.

Although algal reefs have been spotted in several regions around the nation, most of them have either stopped growing or have died because of environmental disruptions, they reported.

"Taoyuan's is the largest patch of living algal reef discovered so far," the researchers said.

"It is now in immediate danger,"institute assistant researcher Liu Ching-yu (劉靜榆) warned.

"The CPC project will jeopardize the reef by cutting a 12m-wide ditch in the back of the reef," she said.

destruction

"This will result in the destruction of the ecology in the area," she said.

The institute has made its concerns known to the Environmental Protection Agency, which has ordered CPC to relocate the pipeline or "be prepared for a suspension order."

However, no feedback on relocating the pipeline has yet been received from the company, institute sources said.

In a statement yesterday, CPC said it would reduce the damage caused by the pipeline by reducing its width from 12m to 4m.