Cheng Long Wetland: Good Shrimp, Asparagus, Water Purification Cycle Without Pumping Groundwater

Because of land subsidence, farmland in Cheng Long Village, Kouhu Township, Yunlin has turned into wetland, and farmers can only rely on aquaculture to make a living. Although they use a semi-brackish water method, they still need to pump groundwater. The Guanshu Foundation moved in for 5 years. In order to persuade farmers to adopt seawater aquaculture, they simply jumped in and raised shrimp themselves, using asparagus to purify the water, then channeling it to the shrimp that like dense algae water, and finally leaving it for the less picky hard clams. After the hard clams filter it, they spit out clean water again. Just before Mid-Autumn Festival this year, the first mass production was launched on the market, hoping to persuade more farmers to get involved and build a Cheng Long shrimp brand.

Saving land subsidence, finding a way out through recirculating shrimp farming

In fact, most farmers in Cheng Long Village polyculture hard clams, shrimp, milkfish, and others, already having the prototype of ecological aquaculture; the only shortfall is the use of groundwater. The seawater shrimp raised by the Three Generation Class are harvested about 15 days to 30 days later, but the meat is relatively springy, fresh, and sweet. Local farmers were initially half-believing and half-doubting the Three Generation Class, but after seeing their results, they could not help but be tempted; at the same time, they were afraid their efforts would come to nothing, so they delayed taking action.

To persuade farmers, after 2 years of tempering, the Three Generation Class's "Salt-Selected White Shrimp" was publicly sold for the first time just before Mid-Autumn Festival this year. "We want to let local farmers see that this way of farming is possible, and that there are also consumers who support it." Wang Zhaomei hopes to use action to call on more farmers to join and build a Cheng Long shrimp brand.

Salt-Selected White Shrimp is expected to arrive on August 29 and September 5. The shrimp are caught the day before, vacuum-packed and quick-frozen to ensure consumers receive the freshest shrimp. The shrimp have now grown to 45 tails per jin, and overall conditions are also more stable than last year, but the Three Generation Class does not dare celebrate too early, "because until the money is received, none of it is ours."

In addition, the foundation also planned two sessions of short trips this year with the Huwei Eslite Bookstore. Since 2010, the foundation has held the "Cheng Long Wetland International Environmental Art Project" every year, inviting artists from various countries to stay in the village and create works. This year, it deliberately took "Hope Fish Shack" as the theme, displaying works by 6 artists along the fish pond paths, as well as paper sculptures made by local parents and children, including milkfish woven from bamboo strips, bringing the public to understand the local polyculture model and, through outside perspectives, letting local people feel the beauty of their hometown.

Notes:
1. Those interested in ordering white shrimp can go to the Cheng Long Wetland Three Generation Class blog to fill out the order form.
Blog http://wetlandcenter.blogspot.tw
Order form <Cheng Long Wetland Three Generation Class "Salt"-Selected White Shrimp> flyer and order form.doc
2. The short trip dates are 8/23 (Sat) and 9/13 (Sat), registration until 8/10. There may be similar short trips in the future; please contact Ms. Xu at Eslite Bookstore (04-23266085 # 702).