Taichung Agriculture Bureau Partners with Corporate Volunteers to Promote Environmental Sustainability Through Fish Release at Songbai Fishing Port

In response to environmental sustainability and marine resource conservation, the Taichung City Government Agriculture Bureau held the environmental sustainability action titled 'The Sea Thanks You: Lifelong Companionship with Fish' at Songbai Fishing Port on June 6. The event was hosted by local enterprise TSMC, co-organized by the Taichung District Fisheries Association and the Taiwan Marine Conservation and Sustainable Fisheries Foundation, and jointly conducted with the Agriculture Bureau to carry out fish seed release. Through dual actions—coastal afforestation and fish release—the initiative put corporate ESG principles into practice, aiming to protect coastal and marine ecosystems.

According to the Agriculture Bureau, the activity extends the Tree Legacy Program, a joint effort between the city government and TSMC. TSMC volunteers planted over 500 saplings of species such as Yellow Hibiscus, Beach Cabbage, Bitterleaf, and Kulinban, helping mitigate sand accumulation issues at Songbai Fishing Port caused by windblown sand. TSMC had previously installed approximately 2-meter-high windbreak fences and adopted the 'Shui Baopen' smart planting technique. This eco-friendly water storage device slowly releases moisture to plant roots, significantly improving water use efficiency. Under the protection of the windbreaks, the saplings can better withstand high temperatures, drought, salinity, and strong winds, increasing their survival rate. Through tangible actions like these, the Tree Legacy Program expands green coverage, mitigates climate change, and enhances biodiversity and environmental resilience.

The Agriculture Bureau emphasized that corporate involvement has become a crucial force in advancing environmental sustainability amid climate change. A total of 27,500 juvenile Snubnose Pomfrets were released—carefully selected based on professional assessment as a suitable local species—and released via a shore-side fish ladder method to improve environmental adaptability and survival rates. On-site educational activities included seafood literacy quizzes, explanations about fish release, and hands-on experiences, allowing volunteers to deepen their understanding of environmental conservation and resource sustainability through direct participation.

The Taichung District Fisheries Association noted that Songbai Fishing Port has long suffered from northeast monsoon winds and strong sea breezes, causing drifting sand to accumulate in the harbor and navigation channels, disrupting fishing vessel operations. Gradual afforestation along the coast helps form windbreak barriers, effectively reducing soil movement, improving working conditions, and ensuring navigational safety. Additionally, the released fish species are all important local economic fish closely tied to coastal fisheries. Through proper resource restoration, these efforts not only hold market value but also support the sustainable use of fisheries resources and maintain marine ecological balance.

The Taiwan Marine Conservation and Sustainable Fisheries Foundation stated that fish seed release is a vital measure for restoring marine resources but must be grounded in scientific management and professional planning. Songbai Fishing Port is an ideal location for shore-side fish ladder release, enabling fish seedlings to gradually adapt to the marine environment, minimizing shock and maximizing release effectiveness. The foundation also promoted sustainable fisheries concepts through on-site explanations, urging the public to recognize that marine conservation and sustainable fisheries require long-term commitment and collective stewardship.

The Taichung City Coastal Resources and Fisheries Development Office explained that marine resource restoration and coastal afforestation are mutually reinforcing. This event showcases the fruitful results of public-private collaboration in advancing sustainable development. In addition to using Shui Baopen to increase sapling survival rates, the windbreak fences installed at the afforestation site help reduce interference from harsh environments, supporting healthy tree growth and enhancing greening benefits. This gradual process builds a coastal environment that combines wind protection, sand stabilization, and ecological conservation functions.

Finally, under the guidance of professionals, TSMC volunteers successfully released the fish seedlings into the sea and completed the coastal tree planting. From land greening to marine resource restoration, the 'The Sea Thanks You: Lifelong Companionship with Fish' initiative fulfilled concrete corporate ESG commitments to environmental protection. It also actively responds to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14 'Conserve Life Below Water' and SDG 15 'Life on Land'. This successful demonstration of deep collaboration among enterprises, government, and civil groups shows that tree planting is no longer just tree planting, and fish release is no longer just release—it injects new momentum into marine resource sustainability and ecological resilience.