MOI Deputy Minister lauds national efforts to tackle starfish overpopulation

2024/09/24

Deputy Minister of the Interior Tung Chien-hung praised public and private efforts to tackle the overpopulation of the crown-of-thorns starfish, underscoring Taiwan’s commitment to marine conservation, the Ministry of the Interior said Sept. 19.
 
Tung expressed his recognition while visiting Dongsha Atoll National Park, Taiwan’s first marine national park and the largest protected marine area in the country.
 
According to the MOI, after detecting the issue earlier this year, the ministry’s National Park Service invited experts from the Cabinet-level Ocean Affairs Council, Academia Sinica and other organizations to form a volunteer task force to monitor and control the species in waters surrounding the Dongsha Islands and other risk areas. The first group deployed Aug. 23 and returned Aug. 29, the ministry said, adding that a total of 11,044 crown-of-thorns starfish have been removed as of Sept. 13.
 
Tung thanked the volunteers for their hard work, which is essential in reducing the impact on coral, the starfish’s food source. The seagrass bed around the Dongsha Islands is a natural carbon sink and forms a critical part of a blue carbon ecosystem that provides a habitat to sea creatures like the sicklefin lemon shark, he said, urging the NPS’ Marine National Park Headquarters to continue striving to protect Taiwan’s rich sea assets.
 
The deputy minister took the opportunity to compliment the DANP’s efforts to desalinate seawater using newly designed wells to prevent seaweed debris from damaging water pumping equipment. The park has also collaborated with the local government to establish a sustainable water circulation system in which wastewater is injected into groundwater after treatment, providing a friendly environment for migratory birds and contributing to biodiversity, he added.
 
Tung further expressed appreciation to the OAC’s Coast Guard Administration for protecting the national park amid ship groundings and oil spills, as well as driving away unauthorized foreign vessels. The renovation of Dongguang Hospital has also enhanced the national park’s long-term management by improving the quality of medical care on the islands, he added.


Source:  Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)