Taiwan shoveljaw carp swim upstream to lay eggs – community mobilizes to safeguard ecology

Despite the nationwide fame of Jiaoxi hot springs in Yilan, the community of Longtan, just a stone's throw away from the hot spring district, was until recently considered too far-flung to be of any interest to anyone. Over the last few years, however, thanks to the help of village chief Li Zhi-wen (李志文) and the rural regeneration plan, Longtan has undergone a complete transformation. After a decade of diligent work, the community finally managed to regenerate the local ecology and have seen the return of Taiwan’s shoveljaw carp (Onychostoma barbatulum). Each year, during the Dragon Boat Festival period, shoveljaw carp can be seen swimming upstream to lay eggs. Nowadays, crowds of people come to catch sight of the fish each day and the community has had to implement a 24-hour watch to guard the now pristine ecology. Time and time again, local people recounted how in the past the village was deserted and everyone wanted to leave the area. Thankfully, today, with a strong interest in ecological education and safeguarding simple rural traditions, visitors have started pouring back into the area, which has helped stimulate development in the local community. 

Farming village succeeds in regenerating local ecology – return of Taiwan shoveljaw carp

URL：https://www.peopo.org/news/336855

Taiwan shoveljaw carp swim upstream to lay eggs – community mobilizes to safeguard ecology

URL：https://www.peopo.org/news/336883

(以下是中文對照)

農村再生生態有成 龍潭鯝魚洄游蓄勢待發
錮魚溯溪產卵 社區居民動員維護

照片

宜蘭礁溪溫泉名聞全臺，同樣位於礁溪鄉的龍潭社區，雖鄰近溫泉區，過去卻是無人問津的窮鄉僻壤，這些年注入農村再生計畫，整個龍潭社區在李志文村長帶領下，歷經十年努力，終於復育鯝魚生態有成，每年端午節前後，就會看見逆游產卵的鯝魚群，每天吸引上萬人潮觀魚是常有的事，社區還24小時自主維護，居民紛紛表示，他們從未想過，曾是人煙稀少、人口外流的農村，今僅對生態環境保育及維護的單純想法與實踐，竟能吸引那麼多湧入人群，甚至成為地方發展的主要利基。