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Fisheries Management

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Website of the Fisheries and Fishing Port Affairs Management Office – Introduction of Characteristic Fisheries (Jinshan Sulfuric Fire Fishing)

 
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“Sulfuric fire fishing” is an ancient fishing technique that is likely to be lost. In the past, fishermen used “sulfur soil” produced in Huanggang to develop the sulfuric fire fishing, which is the most representative fishery featured with local characteristics. In the beginning of every May, Japanese scaled sardines will enter the coastal and inshore oceans in northern Taiwan and it is the seasons that fishing vessels of “sulfuric fire fishing” starts to get busy.

All together, 7 people will add water into sulfur soils to produce acetylene, which will burn and produce strong light to attract fishes jumping and leaping. Fishermen will then use hand operating dip net to catch the fishes and, with their own strength, earn the money to feed their families. Although this fishing technique.

Although there are only 4 fishing vessels that keep this fishing technique due to shift of time and progress of fishing gears, this technique somehow seems to be unique and precious. Besides, as its operating area is rather small, it creates relatively small disturbance to the environment and is considered as a friendly fishing technique. Moreover, it also implements the concepts of protecting the environment, promoting green consumption and developing a sustainable fishery.

These flickering fishing lights also attracted the attention of a number of photographers in recent years. They have been waiting along the northern coast in early summer just to take this precious and shocking picture: Thousands of Japanese scaled sardines attracted by the fishing lights crazily leap out from the ocean and created surges of fish. This beautiful fish-catching picture also received the honor of Places Winner of National Geographic Photo Contest.

New Taipei City has abundant fishery resources and has long been dedicated to transform the traditional fishery into a leisure tourism industry. To present the inheritance of the traditional fishery culture and stories of diligent fishermen to people, the Department has launched the “Jinshan Sulfuric Fire Fishing” show in Jinshan Huanggang since 2012. Apart from introducing the historical background and cultural significance of “sulfuric fire fishing”, shipping vessels that adopt this ancient fishing technique are also invited to enter the port.

In this way, not only the audience will be able to personally experience this culture and understand the sulfuric fire fishing in a close distance, but also the local economy will be activated by integrating this event with characteristics of surrounding fishing villages, agricultural and fishing products, and natural resources.

Besides, through the participation of schools and communities, the traditional fishing village and fishery cultures will be inherited.

Over the last three years, this event has received lots of positive feedback and, to preserve such precious cultural asset, the Department also guided Jinshan Fishermen’s Association to submit the application of listing this fishing technique as a cultural asset to Department of Cultural Affairs in accordance with “Cultural Heritage Preservation Act” in 2013. In other words, it is suggested that Jinshan Fishermen’s Association will retain and maintain this traditional fishing technique featured with local characteristics and a high value of fishery culture.

 
Website of the Fisheries and Fishing Port Affairs Management Office – Introduction of Characteristic Fisheries (Jinshan Sulfuric Fire Fishing)
Website of the Fisheries and Fishing Port Affairs Management Office – Introduction of Characteristic Fisheries (Jinshan Sulfuric Fire Fishing)
Update:2017-11-13