Taiwan's coral reefs are healthier than those in other parts of the world, leading US researchers to team up this week with the nation's scientists to study the natural undersea formations, in the hope of saving coral reefs worldwide.
Academics from California State University (Northridge) and experts from eastern Taiwan's National Dong Hwa University yesterday opened the Taiwan Coral Research Center, based in the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Pingtung County.
The center's scientists will study the unique nature of the nation's coral reefs, which are found mostly off the southern coast, as well as encircling its smaller islands.
"Current movements in the western Pacific make the living conditions on Taiwan's coral reefs better than [on reefs in many other countries]," said Fan Tong-yun (
Waters off the southern coast, such as near Kenting, have a much higher rate of coral coverage -- approximately 40 percent -- than the average rate of 20 percent in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The phenomenon of coral bleaching is also less serious here.
Coral bleaching is suspected to be caused by rising water temperatures and pollution as a result of global warming.
Fan said coral reefs all over the world, especially those in popular tourist destinations such as Hawaii, Tahiti and the Caribbean Sea, had suffered serious bleaching last year.
But coral reefs off Kenting City had escaped this fate because there was an upwelling current in the sea there that prevented the sea temperature from rising too much, he said.
"Taiwan's know-how in coral conservation is ahead of that in many countries in the world," Fan said.
"[Taiwan] may even be the Noah's Ark of corals, but to reach that conclusion, we need to carry out more research on an international scale," he said.
WANG RELEASED: A police investigation showed that an organized crime group allegedly taught their clients how to pretend to be sick during medical exams Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) and 11 others were released on bail yesterday, after being questioned for allegedly dodging compulsory military service or forging documents to help others avoid serving. Wang, 33, was catapulted into stardom for his role in the coming-of-age film Our Times (我的少女時代). Lately, he has been focusing on developing his entertainment career in China. The New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office last month began investigating an organized crime group that is allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified documents. Police in New Taipei City Yonghe Precinct at the end of last month arrested the main suspect,
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Former Taiwan People’s Party chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) may apply to visit home following the death of his father this morning, the Taipei Detention Center said. Ko’s father, Ko Cheng-fa (柯承發), passed away at 8:40am today at the Hsinchu branch of National Taiwan University Hospital. He was 94 years old. The center said Ko Wen-je was welcome to apply, but declined to say whether it had already received an application. The center also provides psychological counseling to people in detention as needed, it added, also declining to comment on Ko Wen-je’s mental state. Ko Wen-je is being held in detention as he awaits trial
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