Pingtung County fishers have collected more than 57 tonnes of marine debris under a reward program introduced by the local government in 2022 to mitigate the impact of ocean waste on marine life and marine ecosystems.
Under the program, Pingtung fishing boats have brought in 57.9 tonnes of trash they found while operating in the open sea to 23 security inspection centers at their home ports across the county in exchange for home-grown agricultural or eco-friendly products, the Pingtung County Environmental Protection Bureau said on Thursday.
Last year, a reward points system was launched, allowing fishers to exchange the waste they collect from the sea for household appliances, which provides a further boost to the program aiming to reduce marine debris at the source, the bureau said.
Photo courtesy of the Pingtung County Government
Protecting marine ecosystems is a critical and urgent task, with surveys showing 8 million tonnes of plastic, the main component of marine debris, enter the ocean globally per year, the Pingtung County Government said.
Plastic particles in the ocean eaten by fish are eventually consumed by people through the food chain, and as such represent a major threat to the environment and ecosystems, it said.
A fishing boat skipper surnamed Chiang (江) said that due to the reward program, he is now more motivated to look for marine debris.
“Though a small action, it will change the whole picture as long as everyone becomes part of the program,” he said.
To encourage foreign fishers to also join in the initiative, the bureau has printed booklets explaining how it works in six languages — English, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Filipino and Vietnamese.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RULES: A positive result in a drug test would result in a two-year license suspension for the driver and vehicle, and a fine of up to NT$180,000 The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is to authorize police to conduct roadside saliva tests by the end of the year to deter people from driving while under the influence of narcotics, it said yesterday. The ministry last month unveiled a draft of amended regulations governing traffic safety rules and penalties, which included provisions empowering police to conduct mandatory saliva tests on drivers. While currently rules authorize police to use oral fluid testing kits for signs of drug use, they do not establish penalties for noncompliance or operating procedures for officers to follow, the ministry said. The proposed changes to the regulations require
The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive US tariffs and inflation would start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12. Who is eligible for the handout? Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including those born in Taiwan before April 30 next year with a birth certificate. Non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, but passed away between yesterday and April 30 next year, surviving family members
Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and Taoyuan would issue a decision at 8pm on whether to cancel work and school tomorrow due to forecasted heavy rain, Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) said today. Hsieh told reporters that absent some pressing reason, the four northern cities would announce the decision jointly at 8pm. Keelung is expected to receive between 300mm and 490mm of rain in the period from 2pm today through 2pm tomorrow, Central Weather Administration data showed. Keelung City Government regulations stipulate that school and work can be canceled if rain totals in mountainous or low-elevation areas are forecast to exceed 350mm in
China Airlines Ltd (CAL) yesterday morning joined SkyTeam’s Aviation Challenge for the fourth time, operating a demonstration flight for “net zero carbon emissions” from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Bangkok. The flight used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a ratio of up to 40 percent, the highest proportion CAL has achieved to date, the nation’s largest carrier said. Since April, SAF has become available to Taiwanese international carriers at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), Kaohsiung International Airport and Taoyuan airport. In previous challenges, CAL operated “net zero carbon emission flights” to Singapore and Japan. At a ceremony at Taoyuan airport, China Airlines chief sustainability
RSS