BUILDING BRIDGES:The former captain of a fishing vessel said his tours on Pingtung County’s Siaoliouciou Island were aimed at raising environmental awareness
Taipei Times
Date: Jul 14, 2015
By: Chen Yan-ting and Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter, with staff writer
A former fisherman has forged a second career from the conservation of the sea turtles
Tour guide Lee Wen-te points to the coast of Pingtung County’s Siaoliouciou Island on July 2. – Photo: Chen Yen-ting, Taipei Times
that forage and lay eggs around the unpolluted coastline of Pingtung County’s Siaoliouciou Island (小琉球).
Former fishing vessel captain and native to the island Lee Wen-te (李文得), 56, said at first he was a volunteer on a project to conserve the turtles, and he became an ecotour guide this year through the Ministry of Labor’s multiple employment promotion project.
Lee said he had spent more time at sea than in his hometown, as each voyage to and from distant fishing grounds took nearly two years.
Although he welcomes visitors who come to see the turtles foraging in the shallow waters around the island, Lee said that he is also concerned about the possible impact of tourism on the island’s ecosystem, so he decided to raise awareness about the turtles by running ecotours. [FULL STORY]
