Don't Just Say You Love the Ocean — Support It With a Quality T-Shirt | Taiwan Environmental Information Association

The Editor says: The Taiwan Environmental Information Association has long been a steadfast partner in raising awareness about ocean issues. Not only do they shed light on marine topics through writing and interviews, they also organise a series of marine debris monitoring programmes, coral reef surveys, and other hands-on advocacy activities. However, like any organisation, they face real-world challenges to keep their work going. If you share their love of the ocean, in addition to joining beach cleanup and ocean cleanup events in person, there are other ways you can show your support!

Donate NT$1,000 Now and Receive a T-Shirt — Protect Our Ocean and Coast Action Plan

What is the Taiwan Environmental Information Association's Ocean and Coast Programme?

The Taiwan Environmental Information Association has long observed that government policy in Taiwan has prioritised land over sea — not only in infrastructure development, but also in public education, where ocean-related information remains relatively scarce. This has left many Taiwanese feeling emotionally distant from the ocean. The United Nations has warned that by 2048, we may face an ecological catastrophe in which the oceans are left with no fish to catch. In response, we launched the "Protect Taiwan's Ocean and Coast Action Plan" in 2012, combining coral reef surveys, marine debris monitoring, ocean environmental education, and the Coast 99 online reporting platform to put the ideals of marine conservation and sustainable tourism into concrete practice.

That Sounds Impressive — So What Has Changed?

Since 2013, we have conducted monthly beach cleanups at Guoshengpu Beach and introduced marine debris monitoring to systematically track the composition of waste accumulating on the shoreline. Our long-term data are used in environmental education and policy advocacy. In July of last year, we joined other civic groups and the Environmental Protection Administration to form the Taiwan Marine Debris Governance Platform, launching the "Marine Debris Governance Action Plan." This initiative helped push the government to announce a timeline for reducing plastics — committing to a full ban on four types of single-use plastics (straws, beverage cups, shopping bags, and disposable tableware) by 2030.

Over five years of sustained effort, we successfully advocated for two coral species to be listed in the Conservation Category of Wildlife. Long-term monitoring data we collected at Shanyuan in Taitung were also cited as evidence of the Meilidao Hotel's harm to the local marine ecosystem. In 2018, the Association entered its tenth year of conducting coral reef surveys, and we continue to document conditions at sites across Taiwan. Each year we recruit more than 100 volunteer divers to carry out surveys at over 10 marine areas around the island, and we actively train ecological divers certified by the Reef Check Foundation.

Wait — What Does Protecting the Ocean Have to Do With This T-Shirt?

Protecting the ocean requires long-term commitment. Coral reef surveys and marine debris monitoring, in particular, rely on sustained, uninterrupted effort before any meaningful changes or results become visible. Only by accumulating baseline data over time can we accurately measure the impact of specific events on the environment when they occur.

The Association is an independent, non-partisan public-interest organisation, unaffiliated with any political party, corporation, or individual. All of our environmental protection programmes depend entirely on donations from individuals and businesses to fund and carry out our work. This T-shirt is a gift we designed and produced as a token of appreciation for our donors. We also hope that every time you wear it, it will serve as a daily reminder of the ocean's plight — inspiring you to reduce single-use plastic in your everyday life, so that we who live on this island nation can each play a part in protecting the blue ocean around us.

Finally, Let's Talk About What Makes This T-Shirt Special

For the fabric, we chose organic cotton to help reduce contamination of cotton fields from pesticides and defoliants, and to avoid synthetic fibres from entering the ocean. In terms of design, a warm yellow background carries the declaration to end plastic pollution; the adorable sea turtle and seabird in the lower-left corner are, in fact, two of the most common victims of mistakenly ingesting marine debris; and over the heart is printed a chubby earth-person alongside a smiling globe. The design may appear to blend seemingly contradictory elements — but what we want to say is this: The truth may be harsh, but never give up hope for change.

After all that, what we really want to do is invite you — donate NT$1,000, and not only will you be supporting our ongoing efforts to protect the ocean, you'll also receive this fantastic organic cotton T-shirt.

Donate NT$1,000 Now and Receive a T-Shirt — Protect Our Ocean and Coast Action Plan

Related links:

• Taiwan Environmental Information Association Official Website

• Taiwan Environmental Information Association Facebook Page

• Taiwan Coral Reef Survey

• Ocean Rangers — Coast Cleanup Action

• Protecting the Ocean in a Local Way — Finding Common Ground is the First Step Beyond the Echo Chamber