Setn news 三立新聞網 reports, that one of the must-see attractions underwater, the largest “Gem of the Sea” in Houbihu, was nowhere to be found.
Kenting’s Houbihu is a popular diving spot for many divers and snorkelers, known for its abundant underwater wildlife and natural beauty.
However, on the 9th, a local diving shop called “Taiwan Diving 台灣潛水” made a disturbing discovery.
One of the must-see attractions underwater, the most significant “Gem of the Seas” in Houbihu, was nowhere to be found.
It is suspected to have been deliberately removed by someone.
The “Gem of the Seas” is highly regarded, and considering that Houbihu is a conservation area where unauthorized collecting and fishing are prohibited, the incident has sparked anger among both tourists and locals, especially given previous incidents of theft and the destruction of rose corals in the area.
The largest giant clam in Houbihu has disappeared, suspected to have been illegally harvested by someone. Now, only the foot threads remain.
Many visitors who go diving make sure to take a photo with it, and they excitedly exclaim, “It’s even bigger than my face!”
Experts say that the shell is about 60 centimeters long. However, on the 9th, when the diving instructor from the local diving shop, “Taiwan Diving,” took guests underwater, they unexpectedly discovered that the largest local giant clam was missing.
Other diving instructors even placed it back in its original position, but to their surprise, it disappeared the next day.
They believe that the probability of it being stolen by human intervention is exceptionally high because the sea has been calm these days with no typhoons or even the previous Typhoon Mawar, which couldn’t topple the “Gem of the Seas.”
It is unlikely for it to disappear naturally. Due to recent incidents of theft, it is not ruled out that it was deliberately cut off.
However, some people speculate that based on the remaining “foot silk” of the giant clam, it might have been pushed away by ocean currents to another location.
The giant clam, also known as the “Rose of the Sea,” is called the mermaid’s shell bed in Disney animations and is hailed as the “Gem of the Seas.” It can grow up to one meter in size and is widely distributed in the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Alongside pearls, corals, and amber, it is recognized as one of the “Four Great Organic Gemstones” in the Western world. In earlier times, due to its vibrant and colorful shell, it was excessively harvested and turned into handicrafts, leading to a sharp decline in its population.
Could this be the same one that has been recently spotted in one of Kenting’s seafood stalls?
CTS News also reports on this. In the video above they report that Kenting Houbihu Scenic Area, which is known for its rich marine ecology, one of the major attractions, is the largest coral colony in the area, estimated to have been growing for over 30 years.
It is much larger than a person’s face, and tourists love to dive here to take photos. However, local diving instructors have recently discovered that this coral colony appears to have been illegally harvested, and the entire colony has disappeared. The residents are very angry about this.
Tourist diving in Houbihu makes photo near Gem of the Seas
Giant clam referred as a gem of the seas is missing now
At the same time, on Xiao Liuqiu, there have been reports from the public about diving tourists touching sea turtles, which is clearly a violation of the law. These issues of misconduct are happening frequently.
Diving tourists touching sea turtles in Xiaoliuqiu
In Kenting, the underwater ecosystem of the Houbihu is rich, and many diving enthusiasts come here not only to enjoy the fish but also for its vibrant colors.
The most immense luxury in the area is the underwater selfie spot, which is a favorite among the locals. However, it is now continuously suspected of being illegally harvested, which is heartbreaking for the diving instructors.
Underwater ecosystem of Houbihu is rich of fish and vibrant in colors
Mr Dai 戴, diving instructor from Houbihu is angry as well:
Does the issue of money and travel mean that people are being exploited? He wouldn't think about these things, he wouldn't consider how many people he affects with his actions.
However, an official from Kenting National Park Administration stated, that in terms of the cost, the illegal harvesting of marine organisms underwater is priced at 3,000 NTD.
The chaos in diving activities is rampant, not only limited to interactions with sea turtles, but some couldn’t resist touching them, which is an illegal act captured and reported by other divers.
Mr Xie, lifeguard chief in Xiaoliuqiu
According to Article 18 of the Wildlife Protection Law, it is prohibited to harass, abuse, hunt, or slaughter wildlife. Violators may face imprisonment for up to one year, detention, or a fine of no less than sixty thousand NTD, and no more than 300,000NTD.