Eighteen years ago, Kenting National Park established the HouBiHu Marine Resource Protection Area, where fishing and overuse are prohibited. Recently, a diving instructor discovered a 10-meter fishing net floating above the coral reefs in this area, worried that it would cover and damage the corals, and promptly removed it.
He posted a video of the incident on social media platforms, angrily pointing out the irony that this occurred during the coral spawning season, which sparked public outrage. The management office of Kenting stated that they continue to patrol key marine areas with the marine police and call on the public to jointly protect the marine ecology.
The diving instructor who posted the video of the fishing net floating in the protected area stated in a social media post that the underwater visibility was very good recently, and it was shocking to see a huge fishing net drifting over the coral reefs within the conservation area. This was the second such incident recently, and the instructor was concerned about the precious coral reefs being covered and damaged by the fishing nets. Ironically, these incidents occurred during the coral spawning period.
“A terrifying sight, not a single fish can be seen in the video!” said a local marine conservation volunteer surnamed Wu.
Due to overfishing and human destruction in the past, the marine life in some areas has severely declined. Kenting management office established the marine resource protection demonstration area in Hou Bi Hu 18 years ago. Although the initial fishing ban faced resistance from fishermen, the authorities stated that the ecological landscape has gradually returned to its former level under legal protection. However, the absence of fish in the video is a cause for concern.
The Kenting management office mentioned that the fishing net incident occurred on April 26, and the diving instructor who found it removed it immediately. During a marine cleanup activity on April 28, which was part of the Coral Week series of events, no fishing nets were discovered.
Local conservation awareness has improved, and illegal fishing nets are quickly removed by divers. The National Park Law prohibits nearshore fishing and hunting activities. The management office, along with the marine police, conducts regular patrols and dismantles illegal and abandoned fishing nets. The public is encouraged to report violations and to avoid direct confrontations with the owners of the fishing nets to prevent safety risks.