"Take the turban snail, for example — they used to be big and plump, as large as a NT$50 coin. Now they're much smaller." — A resident of the Yongan district.
The Rebirth of the Taoyuan Algal Reef: From Open Harvesting to Ecological Protection
The Guanxin Algal Reef Ecosystem Wildlife Refuge, located in the Xinwu and Guanyin districts of Taoyuan City, along with the surrounding windbreak forests, were military-controlled zones during the martial law era. Local residents had little opportunity to enter the area. After martial law was lifted and the coastal checkpoints were removed, the algal reef became a popular spot for collecting snails and shellfish.
Rich in biodiversity, the algal reef serves as habitat for countless mollusks and is celebrated as a "nursery" for many species. Day and night, people could be seen combing the reef — not just locals, but visitors from out of town who made special trips to harvest there. Many organisms were taken before they had a chance to grow or reproduce, causing species diversity to dwindle and body sizes to shrink.
As environmental awareness gradually took root in the community, the Taoyuan City Government officially designated the area as the "Taoyuan Guanxin Algal Reef Ecosystem Wildlife Refuge" in 2014 (Republic of China Year 103), giving the local ecosystem room to breathe.
The Lesson of the Green Oyster: Local Participation Is Key to Conservation
Conducting interviews with residents of the Yongan district.
The village chief noted that green oysters have become far less common in recent years, though the initial discovery of green oysters was what made him truly appreciate the importance of water quality monitoring. The Guanxin Algal Reef sits adjacent to an industrial zone, making the role of the local community absolutely critical. If residents notice something wrong but stay silent, how can the outside world ever learn what's really happening? Thanks to the efforts of Yongan's residents, illegal wastewater discharge has since improved — the community has even developed the ability to identify which factory an odor is coming from simply by smell.
When it comes to environmental conservation, the Taoyuan City Environmental Protection Bureau and the Yongan community have become strong partners. Only through collaboration can conservation patrol work continue. In addition to the existing coastal patrol team, the village chief hopes to establish a river patrol team in the future to monitor water quality from the source. Long-term monitoring is the only way to track changes in the ecosystem and proactively prevent the algal reef from being polluted by industrial wastewater.
Beyond the Reef: Discovering Yongan's Coastal Culture and Heritage
You might be wondering: besides joining a guided tour of the Guanxin Algal Reef, what else is there to see and do in the area? In fact, the Yongan district is filled with traces of a life lived alongside the sea, just waiting to be explored.
The ecosystem of the algal reef is remarkable, but the surrounding windbreak forests are equally impressive. Beyond that, stone weirs (石滬) were once a vital fishing method in the Yongan area. Unlike those found in Penghu, the stone weirs here were built using river cobblestones. In recent years, residents have been working hard to restore them, hoping to preserve this traditional fishing technique for future generations.
Yongan Fishing Harbor holds the distinction of being the only Hakka fishing harbor in Taiwan. Remarkably, it was dug entirely by hand — among the residents interviewed, some had parents-in-law who were among the laborers who built the harbor, scooping out the earth one basketful at a time.
Baosheng Temple is an important spiritual center in the community and recently hosted the Baosheng Festival.
If you have time, a visit to Yongan's Baosheng Temple is well worth it. As a vital spiritual hub for the community, the temple also chronicles the history of local development. Local fishermen, grateful for the blessings of the Supreme Emperor of the Sacred Dark Heaven (保生大帝), donated most of the pillars inside the temple. With over sixty years of history, Baosheng Temple stands as a shared witness to the growth of the Yongan district.
The Spirit of Mutual Aid Lives On, Forging Unity in Yongan
Supported by the Taoyuan City Environmental Protection Bureau, the Yongan district carried out a three-month citizen science survey as part of a community conservation patrol program. Surveys were conducted four times per month, with participants photographing the wildlife they encountered along their patrol routes. Residents laughed as they recounted how they would lose track of time during each outing, utterly absorbed in observing the creatures around them — especially when they came across a rare snail or shellfish. Just before the interview, a typhoon had passed through, and residents described the post-typhoon sunset over the algal reef, light washing over the rocks as waves broke around them. It was breathtaking, they said — a shame no one thought to take a photo.
(Above) Local residents use their phones to document species at the Guanxin Algal Reef. (Below) The citizen science survey helps the Yongan community track changes in local species over time.
With the establishment of the protected area and the ongoing efforts of the local patrol team, residents have felt a noticeable increase in species diversity over the past few years.
Throughout the time spent with the Yongan community, a powerful sense of solidarity was palpable. In casual conversation, it emerged that this spirit of unity may be rooted in the early tradition of "huan-gong" (換工) — a customary practice of cooperative labor exchange among neighbors. Today I help you with your harvest; tomorrow you return the favor. Though agriculture and fishing have declined, this spirit lives on in the patrol team, where community members work shoulder to shoulder for the social and environmental well-being of the Yongan district.
Further Reading
