Kending National Park HQ staff clean the beach in Longkeng Ecological Protected Area as part of a series of 2008 Coral Reef Biodiversity and Conservation Week activities

In coordination with 2008 Coral Reef Biodiversity and Conservation Week activities (2008年珊瑚礁生物保育週系列活動), yesterday Kending National Park HQ held a difficult beach cleaning activity in Longkeng Ecological Protected Area (龍坑生態保護區) in which, for the first time, Park staff were the main participants. Over two tons of fishing industry related poly-foam and plastic rubbish and over 70 large 15 kg capacity bags of plastic bags were collected.

The leader of this activity, Deputy Director of the park, Li Deng-chi,(李登志)said that because of the rugged terrain in the protected area very few people usually enter it. However, rubbish is carried by the tide and concentrates in the gaps in the reef, making it difficult to clear. For this reason, the participants in this activity were mainly the HQ’s staff, with some also from the coast guard and also some volunteer interpreters also joining in.

Li Deng-chi李登志 said the activity mainly involved clearing up poly-foam and plastic rubbish and fishing nets tangled on the rocks. This rubbish has accumulated in the gaps in the rock for a long period of time and can only be removed manually. Work can also only be carried out at low-tide. The participants stretched out in a long line and moved the rubbish out by passing it from person-to-person, making this beach cleaning activity more difficult than usual.

Translated by：Kevin Lax
Source：Kenting National Park Headquarters