Taoyuan City Government has once again been recognized with the prestigious "National Excellence Award" in marine environmental management, marking its fifth consecutive year of achievement. Chief Engineer Lin Hsi-Tsung from the Engineering Department of the Office of Coast and Resource Circulation Construction (TYOCA) attended the "2023 Marine Environmental Management Evaluation" awards ceremony hosted by the Ocean Conservation Administration of the Ocean Affairs Council on June 15th, where Chairperson Kuan Bi-Ling presented the award.
Taoyuan City has demonstrated outstanding leadership in marine pollution early warning through the establishment of the "Coastal Environmental Monitoring Technology Center." This facility is recognized as Taiwan's most comprehensive monitoring system, integrating data collection, environmental surveillance, scenario simulations, and public awareness displays. In marine pollution emergencies, the center swiftly transitions into an emergency response command center, bolstering real-time monitoring and early warning capabilities.
Director-General Chen Shih-Wei of the Department of Environmental Protection (TYDEP) of the Taoyuan City Government highlighted the city's proactive measures to mitigate marine debris. These include the installation of nine river trash interception nets to prevent household waste from entering the ocean, resulting in the removal of 1,482 kilograms of river litter by the end of 2023. Since 2021, Taoyuan has enforced a mandatory real-name registration policy for gill nets, achieving full compliance with 108 fishing vessels registered by the end of 2023, thereby contributing significantly to marine resource conservation efforts.
Furthermore, in managing marine debris at various points, the TYOCA has fostered partnerships between the public and private sectors. Collaborative efforts with enterprises and fishermen have led to the establishment of three environmental fleets comprising 114 boats, which collectively removed 39.4 tons of floating and shoreline litter. The deployment of intelligent unmanned vessels has also enhanced debris collection and facilitated microplastic research, effectively cleaning fishing ports of small and medium-sized debris and conducting microplastic surveys in two fishing ports and five rivers.
On the promotion of marine environmental education, Taoyuan has launched the "Satoumi College," offering "Marine Education Excursion Tours" for local residents and students, conducting 55 sessions. Additionally, "Marine Lesson Teacher Training Classes" have been held for elementary and junior high school teachers, training 28 seed teachers and conducting 200 promotional courses, totaling 255 sessions with 7,071 participants.
The TYDEP reaffirms its commitment to advancing Taoyuan's coastal infrastructure by inaugurating four major coastal highlights with the "Last Mile of the Emergency Response Channel" construction. This includes the establishment of emergency rescue routes in the Guan-Xin Algal Reefs Ecosystem Wildlife Refuge, the Xucuogang Important Wetland, and the Caota Sand Dunes, ensuring efficient on-site coordination during marine pollution incidents. Taoyuan remains dedicated to improving marine and coastal environmental quality through robust measures in pollution early warning, source control, end-point management, and environmental education. These efforts aim to foster a harmonious win-win balance between environmental protection and sustainable resource utilization.