Penghu civic group generously protects the sea by buying up fishermen's bottom-set gillnets

Bottom gillnet fishing, a common practice in coastal fisheries, has long been seen by conservationists as an "ocean killer." Although the government has continued to encourage fishermen to switch to other fishing methods, the results have been limited; Penghu's Symbiodinium Association and the Ocean Citizen Foundation simply dug into their own pockets for 300,000 yuan to buy bottom gillnets directly from fishermen, and the fishermen also promised to switch to other fishing methods in the future.

This move is the first initiative since the establishment of the Penghu South Four Islands Marine National Park, and it can resolve the long-standing conflict between fishermen and conservation workers and frontline law enforcement officers. However, the civic groups hope even more that the government will continue the buyback work and help the nearly 10 fishing households on the four islands give up using bottom gillnets, "After all, doing it now costs only 1 or 2 million yuan, but doing it later will cost much more."

Chen Jinchuan: Only 2 million yuan is needed to buy back bottom gillnets, so if not now, when?

"This year is truly critical and very important," Chen Jinchuan said bluntly, because the establishment of the South Four Islands National Park has attracted many villagers who had left to return; but with sightseeing tourism and snorkeling still not mature, they can only continue traditional bottom gillnet fishing.

"As far as I know, there are now 10 households across the four islands engaged in bottom gillnet fishing. If we do not quickly get them to change their fishing methods, more and more people will use bottom gillnets in the future, so this must be done quickly."

Chen Jinchuan admitted frankly that with the limited financial and material resources of civic groups, they cannot buy back every net; but he very much hopes this will "throw out a brick to attract jade," getting the Penghu County Government or the Marine National Park Headquarters to promote this project, "Doing it now only takes 1 or 2 million yuan to accomplish."

Xiao Zaiquan: Hopes to establish conservation work on the South Four Islands before retirement

"After more than a year of enforcement, many fishermen using traditional bait and longline fishing have reported a 1/3 increase in income," Xiao Zaiquan said. In fact, fishermen using longlines and single-hook fishing also mostly agree that bottom gillnets damage the marine ecology; they just need a method to help fishermen change their habitual fishing methods.

However, Xiao Zaiquan also said that in 5 more years he will reach retirement age, and he must seize the time to establish conservation work on the South Four Islands, "After all, relying only on manpower and lacking institutions will still leave conservation work in difficulty."

He said that because the team currently has only 3 police officers, if it could be increased to 10, enforcement capacity would be stronger, ensuring the elimination of illegal blast fishing, poison fishing, electric fishing and bottom gillnet fishing.