Taiwan's Marine Pollution Governance and Conservation Challenges

30-Second Overview

Most waste entering Taiwan's surrounding waters each year is plastic, with PET bottles, bottle caps, and straws ranking as the top three items. The Ocean Affairs Council was established in 2018. The Marine Conservation Act passed its third reading on July 12, 2024, and formally took effect on July 1, 2025, laying the legal foundation for marine conservation.

Sea turtle conservation on Xiaoliuqiu, fisheries transformation, and plastic reduction policies are the three main pathways through which Taiwan is currently advancing sustainable marine development.

Taiwan's marine conservation challenges span three inseparable dimensions: legal institution building, pollution governance, and climate adaptation.

Keywords: marine debris, Marine Conservation Act, sea turtle conservation, sustainable fisheries, Ocean Affairs Council, plastic pollution

Why It Matters

Marine conservation has multiple strategic meanings for Taiwan. The ocean provides ecosystem services such as fisheries resources, climate regulation, tourism, and recreation. Marine-related industries generate more than NT$1 trillion in output, making them one of Taiwan's economic lifelines.

Marine pollution directly affects seafood quality and human health. As Taiwan is located in the western Pacific, it also bears regional responsibility for marine conservation.

A healthy ocean is the foundation for responding to climate change. It is also an expression of intergenerational justice: today's protection determines whether future generations can continue to use these resources.

The Current State of Marine Pollution in Taiwan

Surrounded by the sea on all sides, Taiwan faces complex sources of marine debris. Land-based pollution, fisheries waste, and transboundary floating garbage together constitute a major threat.

According to long-term surveys by the Ocean Conservation Administration under the Ocean Affairs Council, waste along Taiwan's coasts is dominated by plastic products, with different patterns from the North Coast to the eastern offshore islands.

Beyond visible large debris, microplastics and chemical pollutants are harder-to-remove invisible crises that have long-term impacts on marine life and human health.

The Marine Debris Problem

According to surveys by the Ocean Conservation Administration and civil society groups, Taiwan's marine debris problem is severe:¹

Major marine debris types (based on beach-cleanup data from the Society of Wilderness, 2016-2023):

Rank	Waste Type	Annual Average Quantity	Share
1	PET bottles	37,657 items	18.2%
2	Plastic bottle caps	29,844 items	14.4%
3	Straws	22,660 pieces	10.9%
4	Plastic shopping bags	21,358 items	10.3%
5	Takeout drink cups	17,694 items	8.5%
6	Disposable tableware	17,392 items	8.4%

Pollution hotspot analysis:

North Coast: Ruifang and Jinshan accumulate large quantities of transnational marine debris under the influence of the northeast monsoon
West Coast: Pollution is more serious near the coastal industrial zones of Changhua and Yunlin
East Coast: Pacific currents bring pelagic waste from distant waters
Offshore islands: Penghu and Xiaoliuqiu are affected by tourism pressure

Microplastic Pollution

Microplastics, plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in diameter, have become an invisible killer in the ocean.

Sources of pollution: the breakdown of large plastic waste, washing of synthetic-fiber clothing, tire-wear particles, cosmetics and cleaning products, and leakage of industrial raw materials are the five major sources of microplastics.

Environmental impacts:

Marine organisms ingest them by mistake, affecting digestive systems
Accumulation in the food chain threatens human health
Adsorption of toxic substances increases environmental toxicity
Effects on plankton undermine the foundation of marine ecosystems

Monitoring data:
According to research by Academia Sinica, microplastic concentrations in waters around Taiwan are:²

Taiwan Strait: 0.48-4.12 particles/m³
East China Sea: 0.12-3.45 particles/m³
Northern South China Sea: 0.33-2.84 particles/m³
Pacific Ocean: 0.08-1.96 particles/m³

Chemical Pollution

Chemical pollution brought by industrial development is another major challenge.

Main pollution sources:

Petrochemical industrial wastewater
Agricultural pesticide runoff
Heavy metal emissions
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Key pollutants:

Heavy metals: mercury, cadmium, lead, copper
Pesticide residues: DDT, PCBs
Petrochemical products: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Emerging pollutants: pharmaceutical residues, environmental hormones

Development of Marine Conservation Law

Taiwan's marine conservation legal framework has developed through a transition from fragmented management toward unified governance.

The Ocean Affairs Council was established in 2018, integrating marine affairs that had previously been scattered across multiple ministries and agencies. In 2024, the Marine Conservation Act passed its third reading, providing a clear legal basis for the entire conservation system.

These two milestones mark Taiwan's shift in marine governance from passive response toward proactive planning.

Establishment of the Ocean Affairs Council

On April 28, 2018, the Ocean Affairs Council was formally established to coordinate national marine affairs.

Organizational structure:

Ocean Affairs Council: policy coordination and integration
Coast Guard Administration: maritime law enforcement and security
Ocean Conservation Administration: ecological conservation and pollution prevention
National Academy of Marine Research: scientific research and technological development

Core responsibilities:

Marine policy planning and implementation
Maintenance of maritime security
Marine environmental protection
Development and management of marine resources
Marine scientific research

Legislative History of the Marine Conservation Act

After years of discussion, the Marine Conservation Act passed its third reading on July 12, 2024, and formally took effect on July 1, 2025.

Legislative background:

Taiwan lacked a unified legal framework for marine conservation
Existing regulations were scattered across multiple ministries and difficult to implement
International trends in marine conservation created new expectations
Civil environmental groups had advocated for legislation over the long term

Key provisions of the bill:

1. Marine Conservation Area System

Establishes a tiered system of marine protected areas
Creates functional zoning for core conservation areas, buffer zones, and sustainable-use areas
Defines conservation goals and management measures

2. Marine Debris Control

Source reduction: restrictions on single-use plastic products
Monitoring system: establishment of a marine debris monitoring network
Cleanup obligations: cleanup responsibilities for marine-area users

3. Marine Pollution Prevention

Strengthened controls on land-based pollution
Rules for preventing vessel pollution
Establishment of emergency response mechanisms

4. Biodiversity Protection

Measures for protecting endangered species
Habitat restoration plans
Control of invasive alien species

5. Enforcement and Penalties

Cross-ministerial law-enforcement coordination mechanisms
Clearer penalties for violations
Whistleblower reward system

Forces driving the legislative process:

Greenpeace's petition with 160,000 signatures
Advocacy by alliances of civil environmental groups
Policy recommendations from scholars and experts
Pressure from international environmental trends

Sea Turtle Conservation: The Xiaoliuqiu Model

Xiaoliuqiu has the highest sea turtle density of any island in Taiwan and is the country's most representative successful case of local conservation.

Local actors have combined government, academic institutions, and civil organizations to develop a hybrid model that balances ecological protection with tourism development.

The recovery of green sea turtle populations shows that community self-management can produce significant change with limited resources. Yet the large-scale coral bleaching event of 2020 also reminds us that these achievements remain fragile under the pressure of climate change.

The Sea Turtle Ecological Crisis on Xiaoliuqiu

Xiaoliuqiu has the highest sea turtle density in Taiwan's waters, but it also faces serious survival threats.

Sea turtle species and numbers:

Green sea turtles: the main species, visible year-round
Hawksbill turtles: occasionally observed
Olive ridley turtles: rare

Main threats:

Marine debris: mistaken ingestion of plastic bags causes digestive tract blockage
Fishing activities: bycatch and entanglement in drift gillnets
Tourism pressure: disturbance from diving and habitat damage
Habitat degradation: coral bleaching and shrinking seagrass beds

Innovative Conservation Model

Xiaoliuqiu has developed a distinctive sea turtle conservation model.

Community Participation in Conservation

Local conservation action led by the Taiwan Loo-Koo Yu Association:

Volunteer diver sea turtle rescue network
Rescue, treatment, and release of injured and sick sea turtles
Training of marine citizen scientists
Coral reef ecological monitoring

Integrating Tourism and Conservation

Ecotourism transformation:

Promotion of responsible diving tourism
Ecological education training for guides
Discussion of tourism carrying-capacity controls
"Sea turtle-friendly" certification system

Plastic Reduction in Daily Life

Island plastic-reduction plan:

Xiaoliuqiu plastic-free island initiative
Plastic-reduction-friendly certification for businesses
Campaign encouraging visitors to bring their own tableware
Marine debris monitoring and cleanup

Conservation Results and Challenges

Conservation results:

Sea turtle rescue success rate increased to 85%
Annual average of 30-50 rescued sea turtles
Visitors' environmental awareness significantly improved
Local business participation in plastic reduction reached 70%

Problems still to be resolved:

Annual visitor numbers exceed 1 million, intensifying impacts
Coral bleaching remains unresolved
Seagrass bed area is shrinking year by year
Cross-jurisdictional conservation coordination is complex

Sustainable Transformation of Fisheries

Taiwan's fisheries have faced severe resource-decline pressures over the past four decades. Annual catch has fallen from 1.4 million metric tons in the 1980s to less than 800,000 metric tons today, a decline of more than 40%.

The interaction of overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change makes this problem difficult to solve through any single policy.

In recent years, the government has promoted total allowable catch systems, fishing-gear reform, and transformation toward recreational and tourism fisheries, seeking a balance between fishing livelihoods and ecological sustainability.

The Problem of Overfishing

Taiwan's fisheries face a crisis of resource depletion.

Declining catch trend:

1980s: annual catch of 1.4 million metric tons
2000s: annual catch of 1.2 million metric tons
2020s: annual catch of 800,000 metric tons
More than 40% decline over 40 years

Main causes:

Overfishing: fishing intensity exceeds the regenerative capacity of resources
Habitat destruction: bottom trawling damages seabed ecosystems
Climate change: rising sea temperatures affect fish distribution
Pollution impacts: deteriorating water quality affects fishing-ground quality

Sustainable Fisheries Policy

The government is promoting multiple measures for fisheries sustainability.

1. Fisheries Resource Management

Total allowable catch (TAC) system:

Sets annual catch limits for major fish species
Scientifically assesses resource status
Establishes quota-allocation mechanisms for fishing vessels

Closed seasons and closed areas:

Fishing bans during key species' breeding seasons
Establishment of fisheries resource conservation areas
Protection measures for coral reef fish

2. Reform of Fishing Gear and Methods

Promotion of selective fishing gear:

Raising mesh-size standards to avoid catching juvenile fish
Escape devices to prevent bycatch
Development of sea turtle-friendly fishing gear

Bottom-trawl controls:

Restricting operating areas
Standardizing gear specifications
Monitoring catch species

3. Support for Fisheries Transformation

Promotion of ecological aquaculture:

Recirculating aquaculture technology
Organic aquatic product certification
Aquaponic systems

Development of tourism fisheries:

Business guidance for recreational fishing vessels
Promotion of fishing-village tourism
Establishment of marine ranches

Innovative Conservation Models

Fisher Participation in Conservation

Fisher guardians of the ocean program:

Fisher-led marine cleanup fleets
Incentive mechanisms for collecting marine debris
Assistance with marine ecological monitoring

Promotion of friendly fishing methods:

Training in sea turtle-friendly fishing methods
Technical guidance for reducing bycatch
Subsidies for fishing-gear improvements

Technology-Assisted Management

Vessel Monitoring System (VMS):

GPS tracking of fishing-vessel locations
Real-time catch reporting
Monitoring of illegal operations

Application of fisheries big data:

Statistical analysis of catches
Resource assessment models
Predictive management

Strategies for Marine Pollution Prevention

Marine pollution governance requires simultaneous action at three levels: source reduction to prevent waste from entering the ocean, active cleanup to reduce existing pollution, and monitoring networks to provide a scientific basis.

Taiwan has implemented plastic-restriction policies since 2002. After expansion through three stages, it has established a relatively comprehensive regulatory framework.

Civil beach-cleanup movements and citizen science participation have also given this prevention system broad social support.

Source-Reduction Policies

Staged Implementation of Plastic Restrictions

Taiwan's plastic-restriction policy expanded in three stages:³

First stage (2002):

Hypermarkets and supermarkets prohibited from providing free plastic bags
Thickness restrictions and fee system

Second stage (2018):

Expanded to all retail businesses
Beverage shops prohibited from using single-use plastic straws

Third stage (2025):

Full ban on single-use plastic products in the food-service industry
Environmental packaging requirements for delivery platforms

Promotion of the Circular Economy

Plastic recycling and reuse:

PET bottle recycling rate reached 95%
Chemical recycling technology for waste plastics
Application of recycled materials from marine debris

Development of alternative materials:

Biodegradable plastics
Natural-fiber packaging
Design of reusable products

Marine Cleanup Actions

Government-Led Cleanup

Removal of floating marine garbage:

Regular offshore patrols and cleanup by the Coast Guard Administration
Cooperation with fishing vessels to collect marine debris
Targeted cleanup in offshore island areas

Coastline cleanup:

Regular cleanup by county and city governments
Mobilization of environmental volunteers
Corporate coast-adoption programs

Civil Participation

National beach-cleanup movement:

Annual average participation of 200,000 people
Cleanup of 500-800 metric tons of marine debris
Participation in International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) actions

Innovative cleanup technologies:

Development of marine debris interception devices
Microplastic filtration technology
AI-assisted marine debris classification

Pollution Monitoring Network

Marine Environmental Monitoring

Water quality monitoring system:

Regular monitoring at 50 stations
Testing for heavy metals and organic pollutants
Real-time public data release

Biological monitoring plans:

Health assessment of indicator species
Monitoring of pollutant accumulation in tissues
Ecosystem health indicators

Innovation in Marine Debris Monitoring

Citizen science participation:

Rapid marine debris screening surveys
Volunteer monitoring networks
Real-time reporting via mobile apps

Technology-assisted monitoring:

Satellite remote sensing technology
Drone patrols
Drift trajectory prediction models

Climate Change and Ocean Acidification

Among all ocean threats, climate change is the global problem most difficult to solve through local action alone.

Sea-surface temperatures around Taiwan have risen by 1.2°C over the past 50 years, and ocean acidification has intensified as atmospheric CO₂ concentrations increase.

Taiwan's largest coral bleaching event on record in 2020 was a concentrated eruption of this long-term trend: no matter how well local conservation work is done, it cannot single-handedly withstand the impacts of global warming.

Impacts of Ocean Warming

Over the past 50 years, Taiwan's sea-surface temperature has risen by 1.2°C. The frequency of summer sea temperatures exceeding 30°C has increased, and marine heatwave events have become more frequent. Ecosystem impacts are already visible across the board: Taiwan's largest coral bleaching event on record in 2020; the northward movement of temperate fish species and increase in tropical fish species; seagrass bed retreat caused by high temperatures; and changes in plankton composition that affect the foundation of the entire food chain.

Ocean Acidification

When atmospheric CO₂ dissolves into seawater, it forms carbonic acid, causing pH to decline and calcium carbonate saturation to fall. The greatest impacts fall on organisms that rely on calcium carbonate to build shells and skeletons: shell formation becomes difficult for mollusks and crustaceans, coral skeletal growth is hindered, calcifying plankton decrease, and the bottom structure of the entire food chain is affected.

Adaptation Strategies

Climate adaptation strategies are advancing on two levels. In building ecological resilience, Taiwan is establishing climate refugia to protect genetic diversity, maintaining ecological connectivity, and promoting the cultivation of heat-tolerant coral strains and the construction of artificial reefs. In early warning systems, real-time sea-temperature monitoring networks, acidification tracking, and risk assessments for vulnerable species provide early warning capacity, allowing management agencies to act before extreme events occur.

International Cooperation and Regional Responsibility

The ocean is a common asset that crosses national borders. The conservation of transboundary pollution and migratory species both require regional cooperation.

Although Taiwan faces constraints on formal diplomatic representation, it still participates in international marine governance through science diplomacy and nongovernmental channels.

This strategy of "exchanging science for a seat at the table" allows Taiwan to maintain considerable international visibility and influence on specific issues.

Participation in International Conventions

Taiwan participates in international marine conservation through multiple channels. In regional cooperation mechanisms, it has joined the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), the APEC Marine Sustainable Development Center and ocean policy partnership mechanisms, and Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA). In nongovernmental organization networks, it maintains connections with the IUCN, the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML), and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).

Ocean Diplomacy

Taiwan's ocean diplomacy centers on scientific cooperation and technical assistance. Research-vessel visits and scientist exchanges are routine channels for maintaining bilateral relationships. Providing Pacific allies with sustainable fisheries management technology is a concrete way for Taiwan to strengthen regional influence within limited diplomatic space.

Regional Marine Governance

Transboundary marine litter is a shared problem in East Asia. Taiwan participates in China-Japan-Korea drift trajectory research and works with regional partners to advance fisheries waste management and pollution-technology exchanges. In biodiversity protection, transnational cetacean conservation cooperation and protection of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway are representative cases of Taiwan's participation in regional ecological governance.

Innovative Technologies and Solutions

Faced with the limits of traditional conservation methods, Taiwan has begun introducing technological innovation into marine conservation work.

From smart buoys to AI-assisted monitoring, from coral 3D printing to recycling and remanufacturing fishing nets, some of these innovative attempts have entered practical application, while others remain experimental.

The observation by Academia Sinica researcher Chen Chao-lun is worth remembering: "Technology can only buy time; the real solution is still to reduce greenhouse gas emissions." Technology is an auxiliary tool. It cannot replace fundamental change.

Development of Marine Technology

In monitoring technology, smart buoy systems can monitor water quality, currents, and waves in real time, while marine big-data platforms combined with machine learning support fisheries resource assessment and ecosystem health assessment. In cleanup technology, offshore garbage interception devices, automated sorting robots, and microplastic filtration technologies are gradually entering application. Coral 3D printing, seagrass-seeding drones, and artificial reef construction technologies are opening new possibilities for restoration work.

Applications of Materials Science

The development of ocean-friendly materials includes plastics degradable in marine environments, such as algae-based plastics and chitin-derived materials, as well as marine-debris recycling and reuse, such as fibers remanufactured from recycled fishing nets, fabrics made from discarded bottles, and sporting goods made from marine debris. These materials innovations seek to solve the problem of single-use plastics at the source of product design.

Digital Innovation Applications

Citizen science platforms allow more people to participate in conservation work. Marine conservation apps can report marine debris and record biological sightings in real time. VR technology is used for marine ecological education and immersive experiences of pollution impacts, allowing people who have never dived to experience the current state of the ocean.

Economic Benefits and Industrial Transformation

The relationship between marine conservation and economic development has long been misunderstood as a zero-sum competition.

In reality, healthy marine ecosystems are the foundation of marine tourism, sustainable fisheries, and marine technology industries. Investing in conservation is investing in the future of industry.

Taiwan's ecotourism industry already has an annual output value of NT$50 billion, and the market premium for organic aquatic products has given some fishers an incentive to transform. This logic of "conservation creates value" is the key language for persuading industry to support conservation policy.

Development of the Blue Economy

Taiwan's marine-related industries span tourism, fisheries, and technology. Ecotourism has an annual output value of NT$50 billion, and diving tourism has an annual growth rate of 15%. Organic aquatic products command a price premium of 30-50%, and eco-label certification enhances market competitiveness. Exports of marine monitoring equipment, seawater desalination technology, and offshore wind power represent the commercial potential of marine technology.

Support from Green Finance

Sustainable finance tools are gradually incorporating marine conservation indicators. ESG investment includes marine indicators as scoring items. Blue bond issuance provides project financing for marine projects. Valuation of ecosystem services and economic quantification of carbon sink functions provide a practical foundation for natural capital accounting systems.

Future Outlook and Challenges

The 2030 target framework provides a quantified direction for effort, but achieving these goals will require synchronized changes in cross-sector governance, international collaboration, and social behavior.

Taiwan's greatest challenge is not a lack of technology or policy tools, but the complexity of institutional integration and the long-term nature of social mobilization.

In this regard, the path demonstrated by the Xiaoliuqiu model, "community autonomy plus citizen participation," may have more long-term resilience than any government program.

2030 Vision Targets

The government's three types of targets cover pollution reduction, including a 50% reduction in marine debris, a 90% ban rate for single-use plastics, and a 95% compliance rate for seawater quality standards; ecological restoration, including marine protected areas reaching 20% of marine area, coral cover returning to 1990s levels, and important fish stocks recovering by 30%; and social participation, including 500,000 annual beach-cleanup participants, an 80% environmental education coverage rate, and 70% conservation participation among coastal communities.

Challenges Still to Be Solved

Taiwan's marine conservation faces three structural obstacles. In cross-sector governance, the division of authority and responsibility between central and local governments has not yet been clarified, and the efficiency of cross-ministerial coordination mechanisms needs improvement. In international representation, the lack of formal seats puts Taiwan at a disadvantage in obtaining information and shaping technical standards. In social behavior, slow changes in consumption habits, urban-rural gaps in environmental awareness, and decision-making logic that prioritizes economic considerations all weaken policy implementation.

Innovative Solution Pathways

Technology Empowerment

Digital transformation brings new tools to marine conservation. IoT marine monitoring networks can track water-quality changes in real time. Blockchain technology can be used for fisheries traceability to ensure sustainability. AI-assisted systems support decision analysis.

Diverse partnerships are the social foundation of marine conservation. Companies combine social responsibility with conservation action, local communities establish self-management mechanisms, and participation by younger generations is also driving a new wave of conservation energy.

Policy Innovation

Policy tools include implementing the polluter-pays principle, establishing payment systems for ecosystem services, and introducing performance rewards for conservation outcomes, allowing conservation work to gain long-term financial support.

Conclusion

Taiwan's marine pollution governance and conservation work is at a critical turning point. The passage of the Marine Conservation Act marks the establishment of a legal foundation. The Xiaoliuqiu sea turtle conservation model demonstrates the power of community participation. The sustainable transformation of fisheries proves the possibility of a win-win outcome for the economy and conservation.

Facing global challenges such as climate change, ocean acidification, and transboundary pollution, Taiwan needs to advance simultaneously across technological innovation, social participation, and international cooperation. By combining government policy guidance with civil vitality, it can build a marine conservation model that others can learn from.

The core of marine conservation is intergenerational equity: today's decisions determine whether future generations can continue to enjoy these resources. Protecting this ocean is this generation's commitment to the next.

Further Reading:

Taiwan's Climate Crisis and Net-Zero Transition — Coral bleaching at the outlet of the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, fisheries conflicts over offshore wind power, and the environmental impact assessment controversy over the Third LNG Terminal at the algal reef: how climate transition is reshaping the battlefield of marine governance

References

Marine debris statistics - iOcean Conservation Network — Beach-cleanup data statistics from the Society of Wilderness, 2016-2023.↩
Taiwan marine microplastic survey - Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica — Survey report on microplastic concentrations in waters around Taiwan.↩
Marine Conservation Act passes third reading - Greenpeace Taiwan — Confirmation that the Marine Conservation Act passed its third reading on July 12, 2024.↩