The National Museum of Marine Science & Technology in Keelung has met with some success in management and restoration of coral reefs and clown fish in recent years, as shown by its introduction of 25 clown fish to Badouzi Coastal Park over the weekend.
Department of Industry and Academic Exchanges director Shih Tung-wei (施彤煒) said that the museum is trying to do its part in helping promote sustainable development in littoral-zone tourism and fishery resources, adding that it is also considering creating an underwater tour program.
Clown fish became the target of indiscriminate fishing after being popularized by the 2003 movie Finding Nemo, resulting in a massive decrease of the clown fish population, Shih said.
Photo: Courtesy of National Museum of Marine Science & Technology
The museum began trying to restore clown fish populations as early as 2003, Shih said, adding that as part of its research efforts it caught clown fish in the Longdong (龍洞) area off the northeast coast for study.
The museum began reintroducing the fish to the sea last year after rising success rates of breeding clownfish and sea anemones, Shih said.
Forty-five clown fish were reintroduced to the Longdong area last year and another 25 on Saturday, Shih said.
The fish were taken to a suitable habitat and the museum plans to visit the site in two months to see how the clown fish have adapted to their new environment.
If all goes well, the museum plans to reintroduce another batch of specially bred clown fish into the wild, Shih said.
The mating season for clown fish runs from May to October and they have two to three mating cycles per month, Shih said.
Shih said people would not be able to survive if there is no life in the sea.
This is one reason the museum is stepping up its efforts to help sea creatures become self-sustaining, he said.
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