As Taiwan enters summer, many people are excited to travel to beaches around the island and explore the beautiful ocean waters. There are lots of magnificent sights to see, but people need to be careful that their actions don’t end up harming Taiwan’s marine life.
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Some of Penghu’s clear blue waters have turned into a deep shade of pink. This isn’t part of Mother’s Day celebrations; it’s a sign of coral reproduction.
Taiwanese corals tend to release their pink eggs around March 23 in the lunar calendar, which also happens to be the sea goddess Mazu’s birthday. Predictions say areas of Penghu’s waters may remain pink until the end of June.
It’s also the peak season for water sports in Penghu, which can cause harm to the archipelago’s marine life. When people wear sunscreen in the ocean, it can lead to coral bleaching.
Penghu Marine Biology Research Center scientist Lu I-lin (呂逸林) says tourism activities like snorkeling can physically harm marine life. Wearing sunscreen that’s not eco-friendly can also cause chemical damage.
People should do their best to wear eco-friendly sunscreen in the water to keep the environment clean and healthy for corals and other aquatic life. Otherwise, the beauty of Taiwan’s underwater world may start to disappear.