Residents of Hualien County are now permitted to collect unmarked driftwood from designated areas for personal use, the county said.
Areas where driftwood collection will be permitted include the coastline south of Pingsi River in Yilan County down to Kanan Bridge (卡南橋), which connects Yilan and Hualien counties (but not including the port in the Heping Industrial Zone); southward from the south side entrance to Chongde Tunnel (崇德隧道) to Chilaibi Lighthouse (奇萊鼻燈塔); from the estuary of Meilun Creek (美崙溪) to the beach at the boundary with Taitung County; and Shihti Fishing Port (石梯漁港).
Photo: CNA
However, any wood collected with markings designating it as state, public, or private-owned must be handed over to officials at designated checkpoints, and must not be cut or altered.
Checkpoints for bringing wood to officials have been set up in Sincheng (新城), Jian (吉安), Wanrong (萬榮) and Yuli (玉里) townships.
Unmarked driftwood collected for profit-making purposes must also be registered with the county for traceability purposes, but that collected for personal use may be taken without registration, the county said.
However, those intending to collect wood from rivers under the management of the county must first apply to the Hualien Economic Affairs Department before doing so, it said, adding that it is necessary for those collecting driftwood from rivers to have identification with them at all times.
The country also reminded the public that using machinery of any kind to remove wood from rivers is prohibited, and those doing so may incur fines up to NT$500,000.
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