A former fisherman has forged a second career from the conservation of the sea turtles that forage and lay eggs around the unpolluted coastline of Pingtung County’s Siaoliouciou Island (小琉球).
Former fishing vessel captain and native to the island Lee Wen-te (李文得), 56, said at first he was a volunteer on a project to conserve the turtles, and he became an ecotour guide this year through the Ministry of Labor’s multiple employment promotion project.
Lee said he had spent more time at sea than in his hometown, as each voyage to and from distant fishing grounds took nearly two years.
Photo: Chen Yen-ting, Taipei Times
Although he welcomes visitors who come to see the turtles foraging in the shallow waters around the island, Lee said that he is also concerned about the possible impact of tourism on the island’s ecosystem, so he decided to raise awareness about the turtles by running ecotours.
Ecotours can become a bridge between nature and tourists, Lee said, adding that every day he guides tours to coastal areas between Beauty Cave (美人洞) and Geban Bay (蛤板灣) while ensuring that the beauty of the island and the turtles are appreciated without human interference.
“The ‘skeleton’ of Siaoliouciou is coral reefs, which provide the ideal conditions for the seaweed and kelp the green sea turtles feed on,” he said. “Awareness of environmental issues leads to better conservation efforts,” he said.
In addition to providing guided tours, Lee also checks areas of the island green sea turtles visit twice a day, he said, starting and ending his day on stretches of beach where no one else can be seen.
“Home is where you find beauty,” Lee said.
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