On September 19, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Interior, Jian-Hong Dong visited Dongsha Island to inspect the “Dongsha Atoll National Park”. Dong stated that Dongsha Atoll is Taiwan’s first marine national park and the country’s largest marine protected area. This year (2024), monitoring revealed an abnormal outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish. In response, the National Park Service invited the Ocean Affairs Council, Academia Sinica, and other organizations to participate, forming the “Dongsha Crown-of-Thorns Special Task Force” with domestic experts. The task force focused on controlling hotspots and monitoring surrounding waters. As of September 13, 11,044 crown-of-thorns starfish had been removed. Dong expressed gratitude to the task force volunteers for their dedication to marine conservation and encouraged them to continue controlling the starfish population to mitigate coral reef damage. He also urged the Marine National Park Headquarters to enhance research and conservation efforts in Dongsha waters and align with international sustainable development goals to preserve Taiwan’s valuable marine resources.
Dong highlighted the beauty of Dongsha Atoll's coral reef ecosystem. The first group of volunteers from the“Dongsha Crown-of-Thorns Special Task Force” set sail on August 23 to remove starfish from Dongsha’s waters and returned safely on August 29. In addition to protecting the coral ecosystem, the National Park is actively conserving the island’s freshwater resources. A newly designed water well overcame equipment damage caused by seagrass debris, achieving full seawater desalination. Cooperation with local governments led to the establishment of a wastewater treatment system, promoting sustainable water recycling. Treated wastewater can be reused and replenishes Dongsha Island’s groundwater, providing a bird-friendly habitat and contributing to biodiversity.
Tung also expressed appreciation to the Coast Guard Administration for safeguarding Dongsha Atoll National Park by driving away illegal foreign fishing vessels and collaborating on ship grounding and oil spill responses. These measures effectively protect habitats from damage. The renovation of Dongguang Hospital further supports the stationed personnel with high-quality medical services, ensuring long-term park operations.
Lastly, Dong emphasized the importance of Dongsha’s seagrass beds as a vital blue carbon ecosystem, storing significant amounts of natural carbon sinks and providing coastal protection, water purification, and biodiversity enhancement. The area also serves as a nursery for marine species like the lemon shark. Dong urged the Marine National Park Headquarters to continue protecting and restoring the marine ecosystem and to work with the Ocean Affairs Council and academic institutions to address increasingly severe environmental challenges posed by climate change.