Children Who Grew Up by the Sea: The Everyday Landscape of Baosheng
In Baosheng Community, the coastline is more than a geographical boundary — it is part of daily life. The community association chairperson, known to everyone as "Sister E," recalls how, as a child, her family would follow the tides and weather to bring the kids down to the shore to set nets and catch fish. At low tide, the adults would wade in to fish while the children played on the bank, waiting for the water to drop to knee height before joining them. Fishing methods such as seine-net hauling, fixed set-nets, and pole-nets reflect the rich and diverse fishing culture of the Baosheng area.
"Our family made its living catching fish. As kids, we watched the tides and the weather, carried the nets and the bamboo poles, and headed out when the tide went out." These words are more than memories — they are proof of Baosheng people's life lived in harmony with the sea. Even as fishing practices have changed over the years, these skills continue to be passed down within the community and remain part of Baosheng's everyday rhythm.
Visiting Sister E, chairperson of the Baosheng Community Development Association, and Secretary-General Brother Liao.
From Living Space to Ecological Concern: How Did the Algal Reef Enter People's Awareness?
For Baosheng residents, the algal reef was once simply part of the fabric of daily life — heading out at low tide to catch fish, collect snails, and play in the water was completely natural. It wasn't until the development of the Datan Power Plant and the resulting changes to the coastline that people began to recognise the reef's significance.
Sister E shares that it was only when she noticed the coastline no longer looked as clear and stable as it had in her childhood that she began to explore how algal reefs form and what ecological value they hold. "We didn't used to know what algal reefs even were," she says. "It wasn't until we saw the coastline change that we started wanting to understand how they're formed."
Baosheng Community then began conducting environmental education and ecological surveys, inviting experts and academics to give talks and lead residents in learning about the algal reef and its inhabitants. Since then, community members are no longer simply people who live by the sea — they have become guardians of the reef.
Through monitoring and documentation, the community has discovered that moray eels and crown sea stars were once regular visitors to these shores. There have even been chance encounters with soldier crabs during unexpected events, and residents have observed the seasonal changes in algae colour and growth. These findings have not only enriched the community's knowledge but also given everyone greater motivation to continue protecting this stretch of coastline.
The Lighthouse: Not Just for Navigation — A Symbol of Protection
The Baishajiao Lighthouse, with over a hundred years of history.
Standing right beside the Guanxin Algal Reef, the Baishajiao Lighthouse is a century-old structure that dates back to the Japanese colonial era. Unlike most lighthouses, its purpose is not simply to guide ships — it also serves as a warning: there is an algal reef here, keep away. Its flashing light, pulsing at a specific frequency and colour, alerts fishing vessels to steer clear of the reef and avoid damaging the ecosystem.
"This lighthouse was built to protect the algal reef — not to guide ships in, but to warn them away, to keep them from running into the reef," says Sister E. The lighthouse stands as a symbol of the relationship and mutual respect between people and nature. It is not merely a beacon at sea; it is an extension of the community's commitment to safeguarding the reef.
The lighthouse is often included in guided tours, paired with the Ganquan Temple, making it a representative landmark where Baosheng Community's culture and nature intertwine. These sites are not simply tourist attractions — they are extensions of residents' lives and vessels of collective memory.
Photograph, Observe, Document: Baosheng Community's Conservation in Action
Baosheng Community is one of the participating communities in a community conservation patrol initiative promoted by the Taoyuan City Environmental Protection Bureau. In fact, well before formally joining the programme, Baosheng had already accumulated a wealth of photographic experience. The species field guides in the community office are covered in sticky notes — all testament to the observations and knowledge built up over time.
Because the substrate in the Baosheng area is particularly diverse — encompassing sandy patches, gravel, and algal reef — sand bubbler crabs are easier to spot here than in Yongxing or Yong'an. These crabs are not only plentiful but also remarkably entertaining to watch. Brother Liao and Sister E describe how sand bubbler crabs, after emerging from their burrows, turn to face west in what looks like a bow, waving both claws continuously as if performing some kind of ritual. Observations like these are not only delightful surprises — they also reveal the community residents' fine-grained understanding of animal behaviour.
"If you really want to see the sand bubbler crabs, you have to be very quiet. We wait patiently for them to come out." This patience and enthusiasm are among the most precious assets Baosheng Community brings to its conservation work.
(Top) Community residents using mobile phones to document species at the Guanxin Algal Reef. (Bottom) Baosheng Community conducting community conservation patrols.
For Baosheng Community, protecting the coastline is not a slogan — it is part of life. Having grown up in this area, today's daily routine includes heading out to the algal reef to check on the various creatures living there. This stretch of sea has always been a part of their lives. Though it now goes by the name "citizen science," what they actually do hasn't changed: they head out and use their phones to document what they see.
Further Reading
