Mid-Autumn Festival Beach Cleanup on Dongji and Xiji Islands: 257 kg of Marine Waste Removed Through Public-Private Cooperation

(Central News Agency, Penghu County, 27th) The Marine National Park Management Office, together with the Taiwan Canoe Promotion Association, utilized the Mid-Autumn Festival and Teachers' Day holidays to conduct a beach cleanup on Dongji Island and Xiji Island in the Southern Four Islands of Penghu. As of the afternoon of the 27th, 257 kilograms of marine debris had been collected, which was then transported back by a dedicated vessel from the Management Office for sorting.

The Marine National Park Management Office and the Taiwan Canoe Promotion Association carried out the cleanup activities from the 26th to the 28th, clearing marine debris that had accumulated over the years on the hills, coastlines, and sea caves of Dongji and Xiji Islands due to wind and ocean currents.

This cleanup adopted a public-private partnership model. More than ten volunteers used canoes, which have the advantages of low draft, high maneuverability, and less susceptibility to terrain constraints. They departed from the beach below the Eye of Dongji and landed on the southern beach of Xiji Island, clearing marine debris that had accumulated along the coast due to long-term ocean currents. The debris was then transported by canoe to the patrol vessel "National Park No. 1" and shipped back to the island for sorting.

Volunteers from the Taiwan Canoe Promotion Association stated that the beach cleanup on Dongji and Xiji Islands was more challenging than in general sea areas. Fortunately, the volunteers had received professional training. Although the process was arduous, the division of labor and pre-sorting made the collection process more efficient. Although the amount of marine debris was greater than imagined, comparing the environment before and after the cleanup revealed that the two islands were gradually restoring their original natural landscapes after the removal of the marine waste.

The Management Office stated that as of the 27th, 257 kg of floating debris had been collected from the two islands, with the total expected to exceed 300 kg. They will continue to cooperate in the future, combining water activities with environmental protection, making civilian professional forces important partners in jointly safeguarding the precious marine environment of the Southern Four Islands of Penghu. (Editor: Zhang Yajing) 1150927

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