Taiwan's Marine Ecology and Coral Reef Conservation

Taiwan lies in the western Pacific, with a maritime territory of 170,000 square kilometers — 4.7 times its land area. The Kuroshio Current and the China Coastal Current converge here, creating rich and diverse marine ecosystems. From tropical coral reefs to temperate rocky reefs, Taiwan's waters are home to more than 3,000 species of fish, 1,000 species of mollusks, and 32 species of cetaceans — ranking among the most biodiverse in the world.

Characteristics of Taiwan's Marine Ecology

Geographic Uniqueness

The Taiwan Strait has an average depth of 60 meters and reaches up to 184 meters at its deepest — a typical continental shelf shallow sea. The waters to the east, however, open into the deep Pacific Ocean, where submarine trenches plunging to 3,000 meters lie immediately adjacent to the main island. This "shallow sea on one side, deep sea on the other" topography gives Taiwan's marine ecology its distinctive character.

The Kuroshio Current is Taiwan's oceanic lifeline. This warm current from the Philippine Sea brings tropical marine life and rich nutrients. Along Taiwan's east coast, the Kuroshio flows at 1–1.5 meters per second — one of the world's most powerful ocean currents. Each spring and summer, a branch of the Kuroshio enters the Taiwan Strait, forming what is known as the "Kuroshio branch."

Types of Marine Ecosystems

Taiwan's waters encompass multiple types of marine ecosystems:

Coral reef ecosystems are found at Kenting, Green Island, Orchid Island, Little Liuqiu, and the Penghu Islands. Taiwan has reef-building corals from 60 genera and 240 species — one-third of the world's reef-building coral species. Soft corals are even more diverse; Kenting alone hosts 130 species.

Rocky reef ecosystems are found primarily in northern and northeastern waters. The rocky formations at Yehliu, Longdong, and Bitou Cape provide diverse habitat space. Intertidal life is rich, including sea anemones, sea urchins, barnacles, and snails.

Sandy-bottom ecosystems are distributed along the western coast. Although species diversity is relatively low, biomass is enormous. Economically valuable shellfish including clams, oysters, and crabs are abundant — important fishery resources.

Deep-sea ecosystems are found in eastern offshore waters. Special deep-sea fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans inhabit depths beyond 200 meters. In recent years, many new species of deep-sea life have been discovered, revealing the research potential of Taiwan's deep-sea ecology.

Marine Protected Area System

Taiwan has established four marine national parks: Kenting, Dongsha Atoll, Penghu South Islands, and Taijiang. Together they cover approximately 350,000 hectares, with Dongsha Atoll National Park being the largest at 354,000 hectares.

In addition to national parks, 26 marine protected areas (fishery resource conservation zones) have been designated by local governments, covering approximately 56,000 hectares. These areas prohibit or restrict fishing activities, giving marine ecosystems room to breathe.

Current Status of Coral Reef Ecosystems

Distribution and Characteristics of Coral Reefs

Taiwan's coral reefs are concentrated in the south and on outlying islands. Kenting National Park has the largest area of fringing reef, with coral coverage of approximately 30–50%. Green Island and Orchid Island have better-preserved reefs with coverage reaching 60–80%. Little Liuqiu, though small in area, has rich coral species and is Taiwan's only mainland-adjacent coral island.

Penghu's coral reefs are distinguished by tabular coral. Due to its more northerly latitude, only cold-tolerant coral species can survive there. Dongsha Atoll is Taiwan's only true atoll, with coral coverage as high as 70%, earning it the name "Pearl of the South China Sea."

The Coral Bleaching Crisis

Coral bleaching is the greatest threat facing Taiwan's reefs. Rising seawater temperatures are the primary cause. When symbiotic algae cannot withstand high temperatures, they leave the coral tissue, causing the coral to lose both its color and its nutrient source.

2020 was the worst bleaching year in the history of Taiwan's coral reefs. Summer sea temperatures persistently exceeded 29°C, triggering large-scale bleaching at Kenting, Green Island, and Orchid Island. The bleaching rate at Wanlitong reef in Kenting reached 90%, and the rate at Shilang reef in Green Island exceeded 70%.

Long-term monitoring data from the Biodiversity Research Center at Academia Sinica show that live coral coverage on Taiwan's reefs has declined by approximately 50% over the past 30 years — from an average of 60% in the 1980s to roughly 30% today.

Other Threats to Coral Reefs

Ocean acidification is the hidden killer of coral reefs. As atmospheric CO₂ concentrations rise, seawater absorbs carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid, lowering the ocean's pH. Acidified seawater impairs coral calcification, slowing coral growth.

Pollution includes agricultural fertilizers, domestic wastewater, and industrial effluents. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients trigger algal blooms that compete with corals for living space. Chemical compounds in sunscreen have also been shown to harm coral health.

Physical damage comes from diving activities, fishing operations, and vessel groundings. Improper diving behavior can crush corals, bottom trawling can scar the seafloor, and propeller blades can sever coral branches. Kenting sees approximately 500,000 water activity visits per year, creating enormous management pressure.

Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks are a periodic threat. These coral-eating starfish multiply rapidly when their natural predators are reduced. A 2015–2016 outbreak in Kenting waters prompted a large-scale removal campaign by volunteers and divers, who removed approximately 30,000 crown-of-thorns starfish.

Coral Restoration and Protection Efforts

Development of Coral Restoration Technology

Taiwan's coral restoration technology is among the most advanced in the Asia-Pacific region. The "coral nursery" technique developed by Academia Sinica involves first establishing coral cultivation stations in the sea, then transplanting the corals to degraded reef areas once they have grown. Survival rates using this method reach 70–80%.

The National Museum of Marine Science and Technology promotes a "Coral Conservation Action Plan" combining scientific research, educational outreach, and community participation. It has developed a "coral fragment propagation technique" that cultivates small fragments of healthy coral into new individuals.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has collaborated with Taiwan to introduce "assisted coral evolution" technology. Through temperature acclimation, probiotic cultivation, and other techniques, this approach raises corals' heat tolerance. These "enhanced corals" can withstand water temperatures 2–3°C higher than ordinary corals.

Citizen Science Participation

"Taiwan Reef Check" is the largest coral reef citizen science program in Asia. Since 2009, more than 500 volunteers have participated in coral reef surveys every year. Participants include divers, ocean enthusiasts, and school teachers and students who conduct standardized surveys after receiving training.

Survey results show that areas with stronger protections (such as marine protected areas and national parks) are in noticeably better condition. For example, the fully protected "Dabasha" zone in Green Island maintains live coral coverage above 60%.

Regulatory Protection Mechanisms

The Cultural Heritage Preservation Act designates exceptional coral reefs as natural monuments. The "montipora coral reef with invasive leucaena" in Kenting and the "Chaikou meteorological station coral reef" in Green Island are legally protected.

The Marine Pollution Control Act prohibits vessels from arbitrarily anchoring in ways that damage coral reefs. The National Park Law prohibits any disruptive activities in core protection zones. Local governments have also enacted diving management rules limiting the number of simultaneous divers.

Current Status and Challenges in Cetacean Conservation

Cetacean Diversity in Taiwanese Waters

Taiwan's waters have recorded 32 cetacean species — 37% of all cetacean species in the world. These include orcas, sperm whales, false killer whales, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and white dolphins. Large whale species are more common in eastern waters because of their proximity to deep sea; smaller cetacean species predominate in western waters.

The Taiwan white dolphin (the Taiwanese subspecies of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin) is an endemic subspecies and the most endangered marine mammal in Taiwan. Only about 50 individuals remain, distributed along the western coast from Miaoli to Tainan. Listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to threats including habitat loss, accidental capture in fishing gear, and pollution.

Threats to Cetaceans

Vessel strikes are the primary threat to large whales. The waters off Hualien and Taitung lie along international shipping lanes, and whale-vessel collisions occur periodically. Between 2019 and 2021, 37 cetacean stranding cases were recorded along Taiwan's east coast, of which 13 were suspected to involve vessel strikes.

Fishing bycatch kills hundreds of cetaceans each year. Gillnets, purse seines, and other fishing gear entangle cetaceans and cause drowning. Taiwan white dolphins are particularly vulnerable to gillnet bycatch — a primary driver of their population decline.

Noise pollution affects cetaceans' sonar systems. Noise generated by vessel engines, marine construction, and military activities interferes with cetacean communication and foraging. Deep-diving species such as the sperm whale are particularly sensitive to noise.

Habitat destruction includes coastal development, land reclamation, and offshore wind energy construction. The habitat of Taiwan white dolphins overlaps with western Taiwan's industrial zones, making them subject to serious habitat loss.

Cetacean Conservation Efforts

The Chinese Cetacean Association is Taiwan's most important cetacean conservation organization, founded in 1999. It conducts stranding response, ecological surveys, educational outreach, and policy advocacy. Each year it handles approximately 100–150 cetacean stranding rescue cases.

The White Dolphin Conservation Action Network is an alliance specifically dedicated to protecting Taiwan's white dolphins. It monitors white dolphin population dynamics, promotes dolphin-friendly fishing methods, and advocates for the establishment of marine protected areas. It is currently working to have the critical habitat of the Taiwan white dolphin designated as a key habitat for wildlife.

Transformation of whale-watching operators offers a model for combining conservation and tourism. Whale-watching operators in Hualien and Taitung contribute to scientific surveys by collecting cetacean sighting data. They have developed whale-watching codes of conduct, maintaining safe distances and avoiding disruption to cetacean behavior.

Scientific Research Advances

Satellite tag tracking technology allows scientists to monitor cetacean movement paths in real time. The Biodiversity Research Center at Academia Sinica has used satellite tags to track sperm whales off Hualien, finding that they dive to depths of 2,000 meters to forage.

Acoustic monitoring uses underwater hydrophones to record cetacean sounds. Different species produce different frequency calls, making it possible to identify species and estimate population sizes. The acoustic monitoring network deployed in eastern waters has revealed clear seasonal variation in cetacean activity.

Genetic analysis helps clarify population structure and phylogenetic relationships among cetaceans. Genetic research on Taiwan's white dolphins shows that they have diverged from Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in mainland China into a distinct population — supporting their classification as a separate subspecies.

Conservation Outcomes of Marine National Parks

Dongsha Atoll National Park

Dongsha Atoll National Park was established in 2007 as Taiwan's first marine national park. The park covers 354,000 hectares, of which 99.9% is marine. Strict protection measures have kept Dongsha's coral reefs in excellent condition, with live coral coverage maintained above 70%.

615 fish species, 286 coral species, and 405 mollusk species have been recorded within the park. Large fish species including Napoleon wrasse, sharks, and rays thrive here. In 2020, manta rays were recorded gathering for reproduction at Dongsha Atoll for the first time.

But Dongsha also faces challenges. Chinese fishing vessels illegally entering its waters and illegally harvesting coral are recurring problems. Rising sea temperatures driven by climate change have also caused bleaching events in Dongsha's corals.

Penghu South Islands National Park

Penghu South Islands National Park was established in 2014, encompassing the four islands of East Yupingyu, West Yupingyu, Dongjiyu, and Xijiyu and their surrounding waters. The park emphasizes "harmonious coexistence between people and nature," allowing local residents to engage in traditional fishing activities.

The park's coral reefs are characterized by tabular coral, adapted to Penghu's relatively challenging marine environment. Terns are the park's star species, with large numbers arriving each year from April to September to breed. Breeding populations of terns at East Jiyu Island can exceed 10,000 individuals.

Challenges of Protected Area Management

Staffing shortages are a universal problem in marine protected areas. Marine patrol requires vessels, equipment, and skilled personnel — at far higher cost than terrestrial protected areas. Kenting National Park covers approximately 15,000 hectares of marine area but has only 10 marine rangers.

Enforcement difficulty stems from the open nature of the sea. Illegal fishing, illegal coral harvesting, and unauthorized diving are difficult to detect and stop in real time. In recent years, drones and underwater cameras have been introduced to improve patrol efficiency.

Community participation is essential for long-term protection. Green Island, Orchid Island, Little Liuqiu, and other communities have developed ecotourism, allowing local residents to gain economic benefits from conservation. But excessive tourism can also create new environmental pressures.

Future Prospects for Marine Conservation

Marine Spatial Planning

Taiwan is working on a "National Ocean Policy White Paper" to establish a marine spatial planning mechanism, dividing ocean space by function into conservation zones, sustainable use zones, and multi-purpose use zones. The goal is for marine protected areas to account for 30% of total sea area by 2030.

The concept of "blue carbon" has received growing attention. Marine ecosystems including mangroves, seagrass beds, and salt marshes have strong carbon sequestration capacity. Protecting these "blue carbon ecosystems" simultaneously achieves the goals of biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

Technology Trends

Environmental DNA (eDNA) technology allows scientists to rapidly survey marine biodiversity. By simply collecting seawater samples and analyzing the DNA fragments they contain, it is possible to identify the species composition of an area. This method is particularly suited to surveying rare species or deep-sea organisms.

Artificial intelligence is being applied to marine ecological monitoring. AI can automatically identify fish and coral captured by underwater cameras, dramatically improving survey efficiency. National Taiwan University and Microsoft have collaborated to develop "Ocean AI," which can automatically analyze the health status of coral reef ecosystems.

Citizen science platforms allow more members of the public to participate in marine conservation. Mobile applications such as "iNaturalist" let divers, anglers, and beachgoers all contribute species distribution data.

Opportunities for International Cooperation

Taiwan actively participates in international marine conservation networks. It has joined organizations such as the International Coral Reef Society and the International Whaling Commission, sharing conservation experience and technology.

Marine conservation cooperation with neighboring countries is increasingly important. Cetaceans, sea turtles, tunas, and other marine animals cross national borders and require regional protection strategies. Taiwan has concrete cooperation projects with Japan and the Philippines on cetacean conservation.

The "Indo-Pacific Regional Marine Initiative" emphasizes sustainable ocean development. Taiwan can deepen cooperation with Indo-Pacific nations in areas including marine technology, conservation techniques, and sustainable fisheries.

Taiwan's path in marine conservation is still full of challenges — but also full of hope. Through the integrated efforts of scientific research, technological innovation, social participation, and international cooperation, Taiwan has an opportunity to become an important hub for marine conservation in the western Pacific. Protecting marine ecosystems is not only for the sake of ocean life — it is for the future of humanity.

Further Reading:

• Taiwan's Climate Crisis and Net-Zero Transition — How climate change and rising sea temperatures are exacerbating coral bleaching, and Taiwan's carbon reduction response

References

• Ocean Conservation Administration, Ocean Affairs Council — Taiwan's marine conservation policy and management
• Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica — Coral reef and marine ecology research
• Chinese Cetacean Association — Cetacean conservation and rescue
• Taiwan Coral Reef Society — Coral reef scientific research and conservation
• National Museum of Marine Science and Technology — Marine science education and coral conservation
• Kenting National Park Management Office — Coral reef ecological monitoring and management
• Dongsha Atoll National Park Management Office — Dongsha Atoll ecological surveys and protection
• Penghu South Islands National Park — Penghu marine ecology and tern conservation
• Taiwan Environmental Information Association — Marine environment news and issue reporting
• Coral Reef Association of the Republic of China — Coral reef conservation and restoration technology
• Field Guide to Cetaceans in Taiwan's Waters, Zhou Lianxiang et al., Owl Publishing, 2018
• Coral Reef Atlas of Taiwan, Dai Changfeng, Morning Star Publishing, 2016