Jilong Island
Jilong Island (基隆嶼), also known as Keelung Island, is an island located in the East China Sea to the northeast of Taiwan. Historically called Jilong Yu or Jilong Yi, it is an uninhabited island with no regular access to the public — the only permanent presence is a Coast Guard garrison. Due to ocean currents, the island's back coastline has accumulated enormous amounts of marine debris and fishing industry waste. On this tiny island just 4 kilometres from the Taiwanese mainland, shoreline cleanup is an especially daunting task.
BlueTrend's the Editor joined DivingMate for a beach cleanup event on Jilong Island organised by the Keelung City Government. Together with 600 passionate volunteer friends, we set foot on this tiny speck of land for the very first time — marking yet another milestone in our collection of Taiwan's outlying islands. Let's take a look at the staggering amount of rubbish collected during this event!
Departing from Bisha Fishing Harbour aboard recreational fishing vessels — 16 boats answered the call this time
A spirited team of 20 plus one international friend, charging onto Jilong Island!
Jilong Island rising majestically above the sea
Jilong Island stretches approximately 960 m from northeast to southwest and about 400 m wide, covering an area of roughly 24 hectares. Its highest point reaches 182 m above sea level, and its silhouette resembles a whale. It is a volcanic island with well-developed marine erosion landforms.
A very basic harbour that needs to be repaired before the island opens to tourism
The mission begins as soon as we land — heading along the trail behind us toward the northern shore where marine debris accumulates
Passing through a man-made tunnel leads to the northern back hills
Everyone diligently picking up (and hauling) marine debris
Tallying up the count at a midway platform along the trail
No beach cleanup event is complete without adorable little kids joining in
Such a massive volume of rubbish that Coast Guard personnel had to cart it away with utility vehicles
Thank you to DivingMate for supporting this event
A friend from Denver, USA, joins our ranks
According to official statistics, this event removed a total of 3,492 plastic bottles, 833 styrofoam pieces, 446 bottle caps, and 311 fishing floats. The overwhelming majority of the rubbish was fishing industry waste. Because Jilong Island is difficult to reach and cannot hold regular beach cleanups the way the Taiwanese mainland can, the accumulation of rubbish has been truly staggering.
Perhaps most people will never set foot on Jilong Island, and never see these shocking images with their own eyes — but if Scout kids and international friends are willing to give up a precious day off to get their hands dirty and show their love for Taiwan, what are you waiting for? The Editor once heard a phrase: "Collective indifference is the real killer." If people continue to turn a blind eye to environmental issues, in the end it may be only a centuries-old statue silently watching over this land we all take for granted.
An ancient deity silently watching over this land — all the more reason for everyone to roll up their sleeves and show their love for Taiwan
Further links:
- DivingMate — join an ocean cleanup event
- Xiaoliuqiu Marine Volunteer Team — join an ocean cleanup event
- Love Taiwan, Get Involved — join a beach cleanup event
- Formosa County Cleanup Team — join a beach cleanup event
- RE-THINK — join a beach cleanup event
- From tech nerd to the rubbish gardener of Keelung Chaojing Park — DivingMate Lin Yu-ping
There are even more organisations you can get involved with — but in truth, simply cutting down on plastic bags and plastic bottles in your daily life will already make the environment a better place because of you!
