Kenting National Park Headquarters, Underwater Photography Association Taiwan, and Taiwanese Coral Reef Society collaborate to organize a series of coral conservation activities every year during the coral spawning season. This year (2019), the theme of the coral reef ecological conservation week is revolved around marine debris, which is an issue concerned by marine conservationists around the globe.

While having the goal of raising Taiwanese people’s awareness of environmental protection and plastic reduction, Kenting National Park is also a place where many tourists gather. It’s hoped that the information spread through this year's event will encourage local residents and tourists to reduce plastic usage together, cutting down on the usage of single-use plastics. Plastic usage reduction should start at the source to proactively work towards the ultimate goal of waste reduction.

To let the public acquire a deep understanding of the ocean's current state, Kenting National Park Headquarters invited experts and scholars to plan the knowledge-packed and interesting science-popularization lecture - "Love the Ocean; Reducing Plastic and Coexisting with the Ocean". On April 27 (Saturday), the lecturers brought along their robust, rich, and new scientific knowledges, as well as first-hand marine science research information, and they gave an in-depth talk about marine environmental issues.

In addition to the rich information on ecology, the ocean music concert- "Music Over Rivers and Lakes; Coexisting with the Ocean” - was held at Dawan Recreation Area at dusk on the same day. The concert kicked off with the Taiwanese folk song "The Chirping of a Bird". Lively and fun level-passing games were also organized at the event. Features of Kenting National Park, including land crabs, intertidal zones, the sea, Bambi (sika deers), wetlands, geology, and plants were themes incorporated into designing the entertaining delivery of educational information. Through interactive games, people could get to know the local ecological and cultural features within the National Park.

The most amazing highlight of this year’s event was the special local food sold at the event. In community ecological tours held in the past, there were visitors who asked if simple picnic boxes could be provided to them so they could taste the special local food Inspired by this inquiry, the team from Kenting National Park Headquarters invited partners from the local community. Rich seasonal ingredients from the wild in the Hengchun Peninsula were combined with local ingredients to create unique seafood meals. All ingredients were hard to acquire. The delicious surprises they deliver into visitors’ mouths created an unforgettable memory from this trip.

Every year, Kenting National Park Headquarters calls for passionate volunteers to clean the beach by scuba diving. About 100 volunteers and local residents gathered on April 28. They worked together to clean up marine debris, maintaining a good marine ecological environment.

The seriousness of the issue on marine debris is increasing day by day. Kenting National Park Headquarters hopes that the annual underwater and beach clean-up events will bring people to realize the importance of waste reduction. Only by turning concerns into practical actions can we create hope for maintaining a sustainable marine ecological environment. Changes start from taking actions now. Plastic reduction at the source cannot be put off any longer!