The magnificent coral reef ecology of Kenting National Park brings in billions of dollars in tourism revenue every year.
Tsai Yongchun 蔡永春, a former coach who used to take tourists diving and fishing, inadvertently came into contact with underwater photography and fell in love with the beautiful underwater world of Kenting.
Since then, he has switched from a spear gun to a camera and participated in coral ecological monitoring and protection projects for over 30 years.
He uses his camera to document the beauty of coral ecology, as well as the concerns caused by human recreational pressure and climate warming-induced bleaching and death. Today, the Kenting National Park Administration presents the Kenting Marine Conservation Contribution Award to pay tribute to this important advocate for marine environmental conservation.
Every year in April and May is the breeding season for coral in Kenting. It attracts many diving enthusiasts to come and visit. This year, the Kenting National Park Administration’s coral reef conservation month is themed “Love Kenting Coral Sea”.
In addition to organizing marine events, and collaborating with the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Houwan for online image broadcasting and science lectures, from today until May 31, there will be a personal exhibition of Coach Tsai Yongchun’s work at the Kenting National Park Visitor Center. Additionally, for the first time since its establishment, the Kenting Marine Conservation Contribution Award will be presented.
At the age of 7, Tsai Yongchun started his diving career and has over 40 years of experience. He is a well-deserved sea man who treasures the marine ecology of Kenting.
He is not only the best partner for marine researchers like Dr. Cheng Ming-Hsiu 鄭明修 of the Biodiversity Research Center of the Academia Sinica, but also has taken tens of thousands of photos.
His exhibition showcases 20 selected works, as well as various underwater photography equipment he has used in the past and present, domestic and international photography awards, personally edited marine videos, and related publications of his long-term involvement in marine conservation work. Photo of the various rare fish that Tsai has contributed to the Academia Sinica database can be seen here.
Arothron nigropunctatus 黑斑叉鼻魨 – photo made by Tsai Yongchun from Academia Sinica database
Tsai Yongchun, who grew up in Nanwan, Kenting, used to take tourists diving and fishing when he was young.
40 years ago, when he went south to conduct a survey with the National Taiwan University’s Department of Oceanography, he accidentally came into contact with underwater photography and fell in love with the beautiful underwater world.
In an era when a house in Nanwan cost 40,000 NTD, he spent 20,000 NTD to buy his first underwater camera.
From film to digital cameras, he has spent 2 million NTD on related equipment. He joked that perhaps he felt guilty about fishing in his younger days and later promoted marine conservation with a penitent attitude, and the result was unstoppable.
After devoting over 30 years to marine conservation in Kenting, Tsai Yongchun is pleased to see more and more people heading towards the ocean and embracing the beauty of coral ecosystems.
However, he also laments the consumerist mindset of some diving companies and tourists who are attracted to low-priced marine leisure activities, resulting in accumulated damage to the coastline.
Additionally, human-caused wastewater, uncontrolled fishing, and trampling on coral reefs have caused chronic poisoning of the corals. Using his beautiful photographs of marine ecology, he hopes to awaken people’s love for the ocean.
Tsai Yongchun (left) has over 40 years of diving experience and is also the best partner for marine researchers such as Cheng Ming-Hsui, a researcher at the Biodiversity Research Center of the Academia Sinica.
Director Lin Wen-he (林文和) of the Kenting National Park Administration (right) presented the first Kenting Marine Education and Conservation Contribution Award to Tsai Yongchun since its establishment today.