The owner of a bed-and-breakfast on Green Island (綠島) yesterday admitted killing an endangered fish endemic to the waters surrounding the island after a photograph of a dead humphead wrasse lying on a cutting board went viral on the Internet.
Local media on Saturday reported that a 2m, 53kg humphead wrasse, which had been living in coral reefs around the island for years and was a favorite of divers and conservationists, was poached by a local bed-and-breakfast owner, surnamed Chen (陳).
The report sparked a public outcry, with Internet users exposing the suspect’s name and businesses, and vowing to boycott the establishment.
The Chinese-language Apple Daily yesterday reported that coast guard officials on Saturday questioned Chen, when he denied killing the fish and said that the photograph was taken seven years ago.
However, Chen yesterday revised his statement after it was revealed that the photograph was a screenshot from a smartphone, and had a “4G” logo at the top and showed a slipper that has only been available since last year, saying that he “picked the fish up” while diving and released it back to the sea.
Later yesterday, Chen admitted killing the fish and led coast guard officers to its remains, cut into pieces and hidden at a construction site near a prison on the island.
He was later taken to Taitung County for further questioning.
The humphead wrasse, also known as the Napoleon fish, can grow to be 2m long, can weigh as much as 200kg and has an average lifespan of 50 years, according to the Forestry Bureau, the authority in charge of wildlife protection and preservation.
Citing a 2014 study by Academia Sinica researcher Jeng Ming-shiou (鄭明修), the bureau said that there were only seven humphead wrasses in waters surrounding Green Island and there were no young fish of the species found in the area, adding that the disappearance of the species would have a critical impact on the local marine ecosystem.
The bureau said it designated the humphead wrasse as a protected species and classified it as a “rare and valuable species” two years ago, as the species became endangered, adding that Chen would face a prison term between six months and five years and a NT$200,000 to NT$1 million (US$6,106 to US$30,532) fine for suspected violation of the Wildlife Conservation Act (野生動物保育法).
The bureau said it would launch a conservation awareness campaign with the county government and the tourism bureau to preserve marine species and ecology.
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