Sea Snake Researcher Missing off Orchid Island

Coast Guard Officers on Lanyu, Orchid Island

October 16, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Lanyu, missing persons, Orchid-Island

A doctoral student from National Chung Hsing University is missing after diving in waters around Orchid Island Sunday morning, October 15. The doctoral candidate name Lin was diving with a colleague when his diving buddy realized Lin was missing at around 11:50am. Witnesses on shore reported seeing Lin floating on the surface before he disappeared again. Local coast guards rushed to the scene and called in a helicopter to assist with the search for the missing man. Local volunteers also

Marine and Fisheries

October 15, 2017October 15, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Changhua County, ship aground, ship-fire

A 500 ton Mongolian-registered cargo ship that ran aground on the coast of Changhua County October 13 suddenly erupted into flames at around 4:00am this morning. At around 4:00am, Changhua County Fire Bureau received a report from Coast Guard officers that the cabin of the Lianhe 36 was on fire. Five firefighting teams were dispatched to deal with the blaze, along with 17 firefighting appliances and an ambulance. Firefighters used ladders to board the stranded vessel and took around one

Marine and Fisheries

October 15, 2017October 15, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Changhua County, ship aground

A 500 ton Mongolian-registered cargo ship ran aground on the coast of Changhua County yesterday, October 13, during stormy weather and high seas generated by a typhoon in the South China Sea. The vessel named Lianhe 36 is stranded on the shore of an industrial zone in Hsienhsi Township. The crew of six were evacuated from the vessel, and an emergency crew boarded to pump out the diesel fuel October 14 to prevent an oil spill if the vessel breaks

Marine and Fisheries

October 1, 2017October 1, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cetacean, hsinchucounty, whale

A whale carcass was recovered by researchers after being found washed up against wave breakers in Hsinchu County this morning, Sunday, October 1. Professor Wang Jianping(王建平) from Cheng Kung University Cetacean Research Center identified the animal as a species of baleen whale. The remains were taken back to the research center for further identification and study. The 10 meter long whale carcass was found in the vicinity of Gangnan Coastal Scenic Area. A fishing boat was used to tow the

Marine and Fisheries

September 17, 2017September 17, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment anglers, fishing, Keelung, rogue waves

[Cover picture: United Daily News] Anglers fishing off a breakwater at the entrance of Keelung Harbor were suddenly faced with a life-threatening situation when a series of large waves surged over the concrete platform this morning. Keelung Harbor Bureau said that sea conditions before the waves began to surge where normal. At around 8:00am waves began to surge over the breakwater. A truck that had just pulled up near the edge of the breakwater was knocked over by the waves.

Marine and Fisheries

August 15, 2017August 15, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Kaohsiung, ship aground

A 51,208 ton bulk carrier carrying coal bound for a power station in Kaohsiung ran aground yesterday as it approached a docking facility. Attempts to move the vessel at the next high tide failed this morning. The Maritime and Port Bureau said that yesterday at 5:20pm, August 14, they received a report that a vessel had run aground while approached the coal unloading facility at the Xingda Power Station. A strong current is said to have hampered the pilot’s ability

bottle nosed dolphin with tail hacked off

Marine and Fisheries

May 22, 2017May 22, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment bottle-nose dolphin, cetaceans, false killer whale, humpback whale

East Coast National Scenic Area Administration officers found a dead dolphin on Sanxiantai Reef. The carcass, which had not yet decomposed was missing a tail, and the tail appears to have been cut off with a sharp knife. It is suspected that fishermen cut off the tail after the dolphin became entangled in a fishing net. The carcass has been sent to Taiwan Cetacean Society for further research and confirmation about the cause of death. Source: Taiwan People News. Two

omura's whale photographed off Hualian, Taiwan

Marine and Fisheries

May 22, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cetaceans, Hualian County, omura's whale

One of the world’s most mysterious species, the Omura’s Whale (Balaenoptera omurai) was recorded on video by whale watchers off the coast of Hualian on May 20. The video was uploaded to Facebook, allowing a Japanese whale expert to identify the species. It is the first confirmed record of the species in Taiwan waters. Kuroshio Ocean Education foundation spokesperson He Zile (何姿樂) said that adult Omura’s Whales grow up to 10 meters long, so the individual recorded is a juvenile.

Marine and Fisheries

May 16, 2017May 16, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment hualien, megamouth shark

A fisherman contacted authorities after catching a rare mega mouth shark in waters off the coast of Hualien County on Taiwan’s east coast this morning, May 16. The captain of the fishing boat, Mr Wu, notified the coast guard, as required by law, after bringing up the 5 meter-long, 700kg shark. The shark has already been sold to a seafood restaurant in Ilan County’s Suao township. Apple Daily reported that the restaurant paid NT$80 per kilogram for the shark. Kuroshio

Environment Marine and Fisheries

April 17, 2017April 17, 2017 Phillip Charlier 2 Comments bioluminescence, blue tears, matsu

[Picture: Lienchiang County Government] Pictures that went viral on the Internet showing the beauty of “blue tears” in the ocean around the Matsu Islands are actually a sign of an environmental crisis, according to sources cited in a report on Liberty Times Network. Between April and September, bioluminescent plankton emit a blue light, resulting in a phenomenon locals on the Matsu Islands call “blue tears.” The plankton, known to science as dinoflagellates, feed on nutrients in the water. While the

a giant oceanic manta ray is lifted out of a transport unit in Taitung County Taiwan February 16, 2017

Marine and Fisheries

April 11, 2017April 11, 2017 Phillip Charlier 2 Comments east-coast, manta rays, marine biology

A giant oceanic manta ray (Manta birostris) rescued after being caught as by-catch in a fisherman’s net off the coast of Hualian County in February, has adapted well to its captive environment. Researchers at the Eastern Marine Biology Research Center say that the manta ray’s injuries have healed, and the 150 kilogram animal is consuming 10 to 15 kilograms of Antarctic krill every day. The ray was moved to a pool at the research facility after being caught on February

Marine and Fisheries

Sea Snake Researcher Missing off Orchid Island

Stranded Ship Mysteriously Catches Fire

Ship Aground on Changhua Coast

Remains of Whale Found in Hsinchu

Big Waves Lash North Coast: Truck Swept to Sea, 104 Anglers Trapped, 1 Person Drowned

Bulk Carrier Aground off Kaohsiung Coast

Dolphin’s Tail Hacked Off

Rare Omura’s Whale Sighted off Hualian

Rare Mega-mouth Shark Caught off Hualien

Matsu’s Blue Tears a sign of Environmental Crisis

Manta Ray Rehabilitated: What’s Next?