Reflecting on the Dawulun Beach Accident — There Is a Better Way to Manage Our Waters

The Editor says: When an accident happens, can "banning the activity" really solve the problem? Taiwan is an island surrounded by sea on all sides, yet signs reading "Dangerous Waters" are everywhere along the coast — with no explanation of what exactly is dangerous or how to avoid it. BlueTrend believes that instead of prohibiting people from the ocean and using scare-tactic signage, what we truly need is ocean education: stronger promotion of water-safety concepts and basic self-rescue skills so that everyone can learn the right knowledge and enjoy Taiwan's world-class marine environment with confidence. Read on for Guanyan's thoughts! <Reprinted in full from Chen Guanyan's Facebook post>

Tragedies like this are heartbreaking enough on their own — but every time something similar happens, public discourse inevitably fills up with calls for stricter regulations, which only makes the whole situation feel even more hopeless.

Most people would agree with the statement: "Every adult should be responsible for their own actions." If you accept that, then tightening controls or handing out fines is clearly not a reasonable management approach.

Stricter regulation not only increases the administrative burden on the authorities, it also strips people of their right to enjoy the water — a lose-lose outcome. Over the long term, it also fosters an overly dependent culture. Under the constant pressure of regulation, people naturally come to expect the government to manage every risk on their behalf, rather than taking personal responsibility for the risks they should own. When that sense of personal accountability disappears, the public's ability to handle risk deteriorates further, creating a vicious cycle: more and more restrictions are imposed, yet tragedies like this keep happening — with nothing to show for it but ever-rising social costs. This is exactly what is unfolding in Taiwan right now.

The following suggestions are based on my experience living and playing by the ocean in Hawaii, as well as my time working as a lifeguard at Dawulun Beach:

First and foremost, take down the scare-tactic signs and replace them with signage that has genuine educational value!

Scare-Tactic Signage

"Life-or-Death Line" and "Death Beach" are prime examples of scare-tactic signage. The logic behind such signs is extremely primitive — using sensational language to treat uninformed people like toddlers. Far from helping people who are unfamiliar with the water, these signs only deepen their fear of the ocean, steadily reducing opportunities for people to build their water skills. And when you don't know the sea, the sea won't help you when danger strikes.

I would suggest replacing "Life-or-Death Line" with "Treading-Water Checkpoint" and "Death Beach" with "Rip Current Prone Beach." If you're not sure what treading water or a rip current means, please do a quick search — it's worth it. Unlike the narrative of "disobey and die," "treading water" communicates the critical skill that can mean the difference between life and death, while "rip current" identifies a specific, nameable cause of fatalities. Many people may be completely unfamiliar with these terms — and may even resist searching for information online — but isn't it precisely the responsibility of the media and the government to educate the public on how to effectively prevent danger?

Rather than putting up signs that use the threat of death to frighten people away, why not provide some meaningful knowledge — even just a few words? A simple change in terminology can help people unfamiliar with the water understand what skills to practice at the pool, and help those who do pursue water activities prepare appropriately for the specific risks of that stretch of coast — producing a far more positive outcome overall.

"Dangerous Waters" Signs

Another thing you commonly see in Taiwan is the "Dangerous Waters" sign — but in many locations, these signs do not actually explain clearly what "dangerous" means. "Danger" should be defined explicitly: for example, at what wind speed and in what wind direction does this area become dangerous; where are rip currents likely to occur and how should you respond; or what hazardous marine life may be present and what precautions should you take. Activities that are appropriate at different times should also be categorised, to prevent conflicts between users. For instance, conditions that are ideal for surfing or windsurfing are generally not recommended for swimming or snorkeling, and vice versa.

Clearly defining "danger" not only educates the public — it also gives authorities a clear basis for enforcement, avoiding unnecessary disputes. It is entirely natural for ocean conditions to change constantly. What is not natural — in fact, it borders on the surreal — is for "dangerous waters" designations to be plastered across virtually every stretch of coastline in Taiwan. "A dangerous place can have moments when it is perfectly safe to enjoy, and a safe place can turn dangerous in an instant." Every individual's physical condition is different, and weather changes daily. Designating dangerous waters based on unconvincing standards and then blanket-banning all visitors from entering the water regardless of circumstances is a failure of management responsibility — it could even be argued that it is a violation of human rights.

From a deterrence standpoint, rather than imposing fines, the public should bear the costs of any search-and-rescue operation they necessitate — rather than having everything pre-emptively banned. This approach would not only protect people's right to access the water, but also hold individuals accountable for their own decisions, help curb the culture of reflexively seeking government compensation, and potentially foster a more robust insurance industry. Besides, the ocean is an environment where enforcement is inherently difficult. Questions like whether someone actually crossed a prohibited line, and whether there is even the manpower to issue fines, will inevitably render such rules yet another entry in the long list of absurd laws that exist on paper in the Republic of China but cannot be practically enforced.

The Ban on Chao Jing

Finally, the Keelung City Government announced a seven-day ban on entering Dawulun Beach — and swept up Chao Jing (Tide & Current Park) in the ban as well, even though it was not the site of the accident. Will a ban solve anything? Without promoting proper water-safety knowledge, accidents will keep happening regardless. So instead, why not hold a seven-day open-water self-rescue workshop? Taiwan already has many experienced veterans of water activities, and Keelung is home to the National Museum of Marine Science & Technology and National Taiwan Ocean University. Talent for ocean education is the last thing we need to worry about.

Taiwan's marine environment is every bit as spectacular as Hawaii's. I hope everyone gets to enjoy a better, more accessible relationship with the ocean — because we deserve better management than this.

Cover image source: Google Maps

Further reading:

• What Is a Rip Current! 5 Diagrams to Help You Understand Rip Currents and How to Escape
• Downwellings, Washing-Machine Currents, and the Current That Sends You to the Afterlife — Staying Calm Is the Only Way Through Strong Currents
• Must-Read for Outdoor Enthusiasts Before Getting in the Water! 3 Essential Concepts for Water Activities
• Diving with Datou Shi — Three Steps to Reading the Windy App So You Never Have to Guess About Dive Conditions Again
• Chen Guanyan's Facebook Post