Numerous Shucked Sea Urchin Shells Found in Penghu's Jinyu Intertidal Zone, Illegal Harvesting Suspected Before Open Season

(CNA, Penghu County, May 19) A large number of shucked tripneustes gratilla (collector urchin) shells were discovered yesterday in the intertidal zone of Jinyu, an islet in the North Sea of Penghu. It is preliminarily judged that someone illegally harvested and shucked them on-site during the low tide. The Penghu County Government's Agriculture and Fisheries Bureau has launched an investigation upon being notified and has informed the Coast Guard to heighten vigilance to jointly protect marine resources. Yesterday was the second day of the fourth lunar month, coinciding with a major low tide. Former Penghu County Government councilor Wu Tsai-hsing waded to the waters of the uninhabited Jinyu islet during the receding tide. On his way back, he discovered a pile of freshly shucked and discarded sea urchin shells in the intertidal zone, with a small boat moored on a nearby rocky beach. After receiving the report, the Penghu County Agriculture and Fisheries Bureau notified the Coast Guard to step up patrols and plans to use high-tech equipment to monitor and conduct on-site surveillance and evidence collection in key urchin harvesting areas across various intertidal zones. The Agriculture and Fisheries Bureau stated that the open season for wild tripneustes gratilla is from July 1 to August 31 each year. The illegal harvesting incident discovered yesterday in the intertidal zone of Jinyu islet has caused serious damage to the marine ecosystem. The bureau urges the public to report any illegal harvesting during the closed season by calling the hotline 06-9262620, ext. 122, or reporting to the Coast Guard at 118, to jointly protect the increasingly depleted marine ecosystem. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150519