To celebrate National Oceans Day and raise public awareness of marine ecosystem conservation, the Yunlin County Government and the Environmental Protection Bureau, Yunlin County held the “2026 Yunlin County National Oceans Day Event” at Bozailiao Fishing Harbor on the 17th. With the theme, “Fish Stock Enhancement Brings New Vitality, Plastic Reduction Protects the Ocean (魚苗放流添活力，減塑護海更美麗),” the event brought together central government agencies, fishermen’s associations, enterprises, schools, environmental volunteers, and local residents. Through fish fry release, harbor and ocean cleanup efforts, and smart technology applications, the event demonstrated Yunlin’s commitment to protecting coastal environments and promoting sustainable ecosystems through concrete actions.

　This year’s National Oceans Day event was co-organized for the first time by the Environmental Protection Bureau, Yunlin County, the Yunlin Fishermen’s Association (雲林區漁會), and Formosa Plastics Group. Magistrate Li-shan Chang personally led representatives from the Environmental Protection Bureau, the Fishermen’s Association, Formosa Plastics Group, National Formosa University, along with local residents, in the fish fry release. They were also joined by the Ocean Conservation Administration, Ocean Affairs Council, the Fourth Coast Guard Unit (第四岸巡隊) of the Central Branch and the 13th Coast Guard Unit (第十三海巡隊) of the Fleet Branch. According to the county government, the fish fry release program jointly carried out by the Yunlin Fishermen’s Association (雲林區漁會) and Formosa Plastics Group has entered its 19th year. A total of 560,000 fish fry, including four-finger threadfin (Chinese whiting), yellowfin jack, and black porgy, were released this year, bringing the cumulative total number of released fish fry over the years to 9 million. The initiative not only supports fisheries resource restoration and marine habitat conservation but also helps the public understand the importance of sustaining marine life and incorporating environmentally friendly practices into daily life.

　Director Qiao-wei Zhang of the Environmental Protection Bureau stated that the highlight of this year’s event was the “Land, Sea, and Air Marine Pollution Prevention Strategy,” demonstrating Yunlin County’s integrated approach to coastal cleanup and maintenance. “Air” (Technology-Based Patrols): Remote-controlled drones were used to inspect coastal and harbor areas prone to pollution, accurately identifying waste distribution patterns to support future cleanup deployment and hotspot management. “Land” (Community-Wide Harbor Cleanup): Residents, environmental volunteers, and adopted coastline maintenance organizations were mobilized to participate in harbor cleanup efforts. Yunlin County’s coastline adoption rate has reached 100%, with 17 organizations currently participating. This year, public and private sectors mobilized a total of 2,500 participants and removed 661 metric tons of waste, implementing the principles of “keeping waste off the ground and preventing marine debris from entering the ocean.” “Sea” (Underwater Waste Removal): Professional “Ocean Warriors” divers were deployed to remove marine debris, while smart unmanned vessels were operated in the harbor area to clear floating waste, demonstrating the effectiveness of innovative technology in marine governance. During the National Oceans Day event, 100 volunteers worked together on harbor cleanup, unmanned vessels removed floating marine debris, and divers cleared underwater waste, removing a total of 492 kilograms of garbage.

　The event also featured a variety of environmental education booths, including DIY crafts using recycled incinerator ash aggregates, fish education, and marine conservation programs. Through engaging interactive games and professional explanations, the event incorporated concepts such as plastic reduction and source reduction into daily life, encouraging residents to put green ideas into action.

　Magistrate Li-shan Chang emphasized that marine waste is a cross-regional issue and that protecting the ocean requires every citizen to fulfill their environmental responsibilities. In the future, the county government will continue promoting marine conservation, coastal cleanup, and environmental education, working with all sectors of society to implement “voluntary plastic reduction” and “to keep waste from entering the environment” in pursuit of a sustainable vision for a blue ocean.