Kenting park office reports coral ‘poaching’ incident
By Tsai Tsung-hsien and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer
The Kenting National Park Management Office on Thursday said it has forwarded complaints to authorities about an alleged coral poacher operating within the park a day earlier.
The office said that it received a report about the incident around the Hejie (合界) diving spot near Hengchun Township (恆春) at 9:50am on Wednesday.
A diving coach in the area recorded the incident and posted the video online, criticizing the alleged poacher’s diving techniques and lack of morals.
A diver appears to take coral from a reef in Kenting National Park in an undated image taken from video.
Photo courtesy of uncle_sam_dive
The coach also asked Internet users if they recognize the oxygen tank or equipment to help identify the poacher.
The office said it had alerted the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) and dispatched office staff to the area where the video was taken.
As it was already several hours after the incident, the officials and the CGA did not find anything in the area, it said.
Based on the video provided, the office said it was difficult to definitively determine whether the person had actually been poaching coral.
The office said it has forwarded the video and all information to the police and would comply with the police’s investigation results.
Per criminal provisions of the Fisheries Act (漁業法), if an offense involves violating specific restrictions announced by the authorities, such as restrictions on the conservation of aquatic resources under Article 44 of the act, violators could be subject to a maximum prison sentence of three years, an additional fine or an accompanying fine of up to NT$150,000, the office said.
The office said it would step up patrols in the area and work with local diving operators and enthusiasts to photograph or film suspected illegal harvesting and report it promptly to protect marine resources in the area.
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