Marine Debris Map

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Area

Fringe Islands

Matsu, Kinmen, Penghu

Due to the geographical location of these fringe islands, they are especially prone to receiving large amounts of rubbish from mainland China. Kinmen and Matsu are especially affected, being so close to Jiulong River and Min River estuaries respectively. Looking closely at the unwelcome guests, you can even find out what the prominent industries are across the sea!

North Coast

New Taipei, Keelung

As if being strung along like a puppet, the North Coast adheres closely to the northeast monsoon and ocean currents, duly accepting any loose debris. The plastic bottles and containers slowly disintegrate into the environment, becoming tiny plastic particles which dissolve into the sand and caught between rocks crags.

West Coast

Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua

Plastic makes up a large portion of society’s daily waste. Plastics, aluminium cans, takeaway containers along with polystyrene and fishing nets are just some of the varieties of junk that make an appearance all along the western coasts of Taiwan.

South West Coast

Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan

Polystyrene buoys make up a large portion of marine debris. These buoys are used in the aquaculture sector, primarily in the oyster industry. Due to these fisheries, some coastal areas become covered by a white blanket. The blanket is not snow; it is polystyrene. It ranges in size from miniscule fragments to large blocks. The polystyrene is occasionally incinerated illegally. After it is burned, a carbon-based substance is left behind, which covers the beach in a black blanket.

South Coast

Kaohsiung, Liuqiu, Pingtung

Plastic bottles and takeaway cups are some common varieties of garbage found floating around at sea. Even the waters of Liuqiu Island, a coral island in the Taiwan Strait, are not spared. Liuqiu Island is located off the coast of Pingtung and Kaohsiung. Every time it rains heavily, large quantities of garbage are dragged down Gaoping Creek and Donggan Creek. It flows into the ocean and washes up on the shores of Liuqiu Island.

East Coast

Taitung, Hualien, Green Island, Lanyu, Yilan

The East Coast claims to be the final piece of pure, untarnished land in Taiwan. Indeed, it is genuinely less polluted than other regions, with most of the garbage being left by the local community and tourism.