Taiwan's coral reefs are healthier than those in other parts of the world, leading US researchers to team up this week with the nation's scientists to study the natural undersea formations, in the hope of saving coral reefs worldwide.
Academics from California State University (Northridge) and experts from eastern Taiwan's National Dong Hwa University yesterday opened the Taiwan Coral Research Center, based in the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Pingtung County.
The center's scientists will study the unique nature of the nation's coral reefs, which are found mostly off the southern coast, as well as encircling its smaller islands.
"Current movements in the western Pacific make the living conditions on Taiwan's coral reefs better than [on reefs in many other countries]," said Fan Tong-yun (
Waters off the southern coast, such as near Kenting, have a much higher rate of coral coverage -- approximately 40 percent -- than the average rate of 20 percent in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The phenomenon of coral bleaching is also less serious here.
Coral bleaching is suspected to be caused by rising water temperatures and pollution as a result of global warming.
Fan said coral reefs all over the world, especially those in popular tourist destinations such as Hawaii, Tahiti and the Caribbean Sea, had suffered serious bleaching last year.
But coral reefs off Kenting City had escaped this fate because there was an upwelling current in the sea there that prevented the sea temperature from rising too much, he said.
"Taiwan's know-how in coral conservation is ahead of that in many countries in the world," Fan said.
"[Taiwan] may even be the Noah's Ark of corals, but to reach that conclusion, we need to carry out more research on an international scale," he said.
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
The Taichung District Court yesterday confirmed its final ruling that the marriage between teenage heir Lai (賴) and a man surnamed Hsia (夏) was legally invalid, preventing Hsia from inheriting Lai’s NT$500 million (US$16.37 million) estate. The court confirmed that Hsia chose not to appeal the civil judgement after the court handed down its ruling in June, making the decision final. In the June ruling, the court said that Lai, 18, and Hsia, 26, showed “no mutual admiration before the marriage” and that their interactions were “distant and unfamiliar.” The judge concluded that the couple lacked the “true intention of
INDUSTRY: Beijing’s latest export measures go beyond targeting the US and would likely affect any country that uses Chinese rare earths or related tech, an academic said Taiwanese industries could face significant disruption from China’s newly tightened export controls on rare earth elements, as much of Taiwan’s supply indirectly depends on Chinese materials processed in Japan, a local expert said yesterday. Kristy Hsu (徐遵慈), director of the Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, said that China’s latest export measures go far beyond targeting the US and would likely affect any country that uses Chinese rare earths or related technologies. With Japan and Southeast Asian countries among those expected to be hit, Taiwan could feel the impact through its reliance on Japanese-made semi-finished products and
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