A red-breasted merganser on Saturday drowned off New Taipei City after becoming entangled in an abandoned fishing net, raising concerns about waste in Taiwan’s marine environments.
A bird-watcher spotted the duck not far off the coast of Shihmen District (石門) at about 9:40am and called animal protection services shortly after.
It was unable to fly, as it was caught in a fishing net and succumbed to the strength of the waves, the bird-watcher said.
Photo courtesy of Chen Yu-hsin
Animal protection personnel were on their way to the site when the duck drowned at about 11am, the New Taipei City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office said.
People should call 1959 immediately if they see wild animals in need of rescue, the office said.
The red-breasted merganser is a winter migratory bird rarely seen in Taiwan.
This year five of the ducks, known for their red plumage, were spotted off the coast of Shihmen, attracting the attention of bird-watchers.
Discarded fishing nets, fishing lines, plastic and other waste are not only dangerous to aquatic birds, but also to whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other marine animals, said Huang Shu-ting (黃蜀婷), president of a bird-watching club.
“Today it is a red-breasted merganser, but tomorrow it could be a dolphin, turtle or other birds,” Huang said, urging fishers to properly dispose of fishing gear.
The incident will hopefully raise public awareness of marine pollution and the importance of protecting Taiwan’s marine ecosystem, she said.
Agencies should bolster their management of marine waste so that Taiwan’s oceans can become a true sanctuary for marine wildlife, she added.
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