The number of coastal fish species in northern Taiwan has decreased from 120 to about 30 over the past three decades, and the nation could face a depletion of fish stocks sooner than expected, according to a study by Academia Sinica researchers.
A team led by researcher Shao Kwang-tsao (邵廣昭) collected fish killed by cooling-water intake screens at two nuclear power plants on the nation’s northern coast every month since 1987, with a total of about 1.28 million fish having been collected.
Collecting fish at intake screens provides a consistent and objective sampling method, as it is not affected by a sampling technician’s personal ability or weather conditions, Shao said, adding that the team’s research provides rare long-term datasets for studying marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable fishery management.
About 20 to 30 fish species can be found on the northern coast, with the number of fish species having halved every 10 to 15 years since the study began, Shao said.
The most common fish species found near the coast of the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) has changed from an economic species in mullet (Mugil cephalus) to a lower economic species, such as rabbitfish (Siganus fuscescens) and spiny puffer (Diodon holocanthus), suggesting a decline in resources due to overfishing, Shao said.
The number of migrant fish species has also declined, since those fish are of higher economic value than resident fish, which are mostly reef fish and coarse fish that are not good for consumption, he said.
“Overfishing, habitat destruction and pollution are human activities that have caused a decline of marine biodiversity, but the relevant authorities are not willing to implement measures to stop a depletion of fisheries, using an excuse that there is no definite cause of the depletion,” he said.
According to a UN report, most global fish species are to be depleted by 2048 if fishing around the world continues at its present pace, Shao said, adding that the situation in northern Taiwan might see local fisheries’ resources run out earlier than the UN prediction.
“Imposing fishing restrictions and setting up reserve areas are the most effective ways to stop overfishing,” he said.
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