Pingtung County Government responded to World Oceans Day on June 8th by calling for 60 diving volunteers to participate in a marine cleanup at the famous Wanlitong Undersea Park in Kenting National Park.
During the morning, they cleared 37 kilograms of various types of trash from the seabed. Among them, the 13 students from Kenting Elementary School who had just completed their underwater field trip last week also joined the ranks of the “Undersea Warriors” and participated in the underwater cleanup under the guidance of their coach.
The children, carrying bags of “spoils” from the sea, said, “It’s difficult to clean up the bottles and plastic garbage that sink to the seabed. Please don’t throw them into the sea!”
These beautiful ladies were among volunteer divers who helped to clean up the seabed in Wanlitong
Cleaning up the garbage on the beach and the sea surface is relatively easy, but the real challenge lies in the unseen underwater garbage.
Two years ago, the Environmental Protection Bureau of Pingtung County Government trained 12 “Undersea Warriors” among its staff members.
To expand the efforts in removing coral nets and marine debris from the seabed, the county has recruited a total of 1,067 “Environmental Fleet” vessels, setting a new national record.
The first “Undersea Warriors” team in the county, along with diving volunteers, the Kenting National Park Administration, and local dive shops, have joined forces today on the eve of National Oceans Day to organize a marine cleanup activity in the Wanlitong Undersea Park in Hengchun Township, aiming to restore a clean marine environment.
Director Yen Hsin-yuan 顏幸苑 of the Environmental Protection Bureau stated that to collaborate in protecting marine ecology and achieving resource sustainability, the bureau has been recruiting marine volunteers since 2017.
The “Undersea Warriors” team, composed of 13 senior students from Pingtung County’s Kenting Elementary School, has received long-term guidance and instruction in diving knowledge and skills from instructors of Taiwanese diving companies.
These children have obtained diving certificates and have vowed to do their part in safeguarding the marine environment. Today, they join forces to dive into the underwater realm and remove underwater garbage, happily contributing their efforts to the sustainable preservation of marine ecology.
Go, Undersea Warriors Team, Jiayou!
The Environmental Protection Bureau explains that there are many types of marine debris, with 20% floating and 80% sinking.
Items like fishing nets, for example, are often washed ashore due to wind and waves, while others continue to float.
Over time, through exposure to sunlight and the pounding of waves, they undergo weathering, decomposition, and fragmentation, eventually breaking down into plastic micro-particles, some even reaching the nanoscale.
These tiny particles can be ingested by microscopic plankton, which is then consumed by small fish, shrimp, and larger fish.
Through the food chain, these particles can accumulate in organisms’ organs and muscle tissues and ultimately may be consumed by humans.
While beach cleaning and ocean cleanup efforts are necessary, addressing the issue at its source through effective management and prevention is crucial.
Items like fishing nets, for example, are often washed ashore due to wind and waves, while others continue to float.
These Kenting kids are truly awesome!