Pingtung County fishers have collected more than 57 tonnes of marine debris under a reward program introduced by the local government in 2022 to mitigate the impact of ocean waste on marine life and marine ecosystems.
Under the program, Pingtung fishing boats have brought in 57.9 tonnes of trash they found while operating in the open sea to 23 security inspection centers at their home ports across the county in exchange for home-grown agricultural or eco-friendly products, the Pingtung County Environmental Protection Bureau said on Thursday.
Last year, a reward points system was launched, allowing fishers to exchange the waste they collect from the sea for household appliances, which provides a further boost to the program aiming to reduce marine debris at the source, the bureau said.
Photo courtesy of the Pingtung County Government
Protecting marine ecosystems is a critical and urgent task, with surveys showing 8 million tonnes of plastic, the main component of marine debris, enter the ocean globally per year, the Pingtung County Government said.
Plastic particles in the ocean eaten by fish are eventually consumed by people through the food chain, and as such represent a major threat to the environment and ecosystems, it said.
A fishing boat skipper surnamed Chiang (江) said that due to the reward program, he is now more motivated to look for marine debris.
“Though a small action, it will change the whole picture as long as everyone becomes part of the program,” he said.
To encourage foreign fishers to also join in the initiative, the bureau has printed booklets explaining how it works in six languages — English, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Filipino and Vietnamese.
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