On December 11, the Control Yuan issued corrective measures targeting four government agencies to address the severe decline of coral reefs in Xiaoliuqiu, Taiwan. This decision stemmed from a report commissioned by Control Yuan members Dr. Lin Sheng-fong and Fan Sun-lu, highlighting that although the region faced adverse effects from the 2016 El Niño’s unusually warm seawater, the coral reefs have not recovered effectively since.
Before 2015, live coral coverage in Xiaoliuqiu was between 30% and 50%, but this dramatically fell to a mere 11.9% by 2021-2023, marking the lowest coral coverage in Taiwan. The report indicated that key factors contributing to this decline include reduced biodiversity influenced by snorkelers and intertidal zone tourism.
The Control Yuan identified four key agencies responsible for this deterioration: the Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Headquarters (DBNSAH), the Tourism Administration, the Ocean Affairs Council, and the Pingtung County Government. Major issues were pinpointed, including inadequate control of overtourism and ineffective sewage management strategies.
The DBNSAH was criticized for its lack of proper sustainable tourism planning and failure to account for the ecological impacts of tourism activities. Although it commissioned a study to evaluate tourism capacity, the findings did not adequately reflect the ecological stress placed on the local environment, predominantly driven by seaside attractions. Furthermore, the Ocean Affairs Council had previously urged the DBNSAH to reexamine tourist numbers since 2022, citing laws designed to foster sustainable tourism; however, the necessary assessments were not completed until this year.
The Tourism Administration was called out for inadequately supervising the DBNSAH’s initiatives, and the Ocean Affairs Council was criticized for not following up on its recommendations regarding tourism management. The Pingtung County Government was also noted for its poor oversight of the intertidal zones surrounding Xiaoliuqiu. Even though restrictions on tourist numbers were implemented in 2022, enforcement has been lacking in certain intertidal areas, and coral reefs have not been designated as a protected species within marine protected zones.
Additionally, the Ocean Affairs Council faced scrutiny for not enforcing stricter standards for nutrient salt levels in marine environments. These standards are critical as corals are very sensitive to nutrient pollution, with Taiwan’s regulations currently being more lenient than those of neighboring countries. Xiaoliuqiu’s inadequate wastewater treatment facilities are further exacerbating the issue, allowing excess nutrients to foster harmful algal blooms in intertidal areas.
In light of these findings, the Control Yuan urged the Ocean Affairs Council and Pingtung County Government to take immediate action to rectify these environmental issues and safeguard Xiaoliuqiu’s coral reefs.
