“Watch your step,” “do not give oranges as gifts” and “do not talk about fishing” were among the tips cultural workers on Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼) yesterday offered to tourists planning to visit for flying fish season.
Maraos, CEO of the Lan An Cultural and Education Foundation, a local organization dedicated to promoting indigenous culture, said that residents welcomed visitors during the February-to-May festival, but worried that there could be conflicts between members of the Tao community and tourists.
Locals want visitors to obtain a basic understanding about the lifestyle and customs of Tao before traveling to the island for flying fish season, which celebrates local traditions and nature, he said.
Photo: CNA
There are multiple taboos tourists should avoid, such as touching and taking pictures of fishing boats and entering people’s homes without permission, acts which are believed to bring bad luck to fishers, he said.
Some of the pavilions on the island are private and not for tourists’ use, he said.
Visitors who wish to speak with older Tao, most of whom cannot speak Chinese, can ask locals to translate, he said.
An association studying Catholic development and cultures on Orchid Island said that tourists should pay attention not to walk under where locals hang and dry their flying fish.
Visitors should also avoid giving oranges as gifts and should not discuss fishing trips with fishers before they set out to sea, it said.
To protect local customs, the Coast Guard Administration yesterday launched a five-month project near the island to implement strict fishing rules, including prohibiting power-driven fishing boats from catching flying fish within 3 nautical miles (5.6km) of the island’s coast.
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