Picture book creativity: Subsistence Fishing – Houpi Life

At noon, elderly residents gather in the canteen, where there’s eating, chatting and endless laughter – this is Houyi community in Zhuangwei Township, Yilan County. Houpi Community is a typical traditional fishing village, which mainly relies on inshore fishing. However, with the decline of inshore fisheries through the years, the use of traditional Taiwanese Beach Seine fishing techniques is gradually waning. On top of this, severe population outflow means that the majority of residents left in the village are senior citizens.

To rebuild a sense of honor within the community, locals began documenting the traditional Taiwanese Beach Seine techniques and the eel fry fishing culture. Relying entirely on the efforts of Houpi residents, the community released a picture book called “Subsistence Fishing – Houpi Life.”

Director general of Houyi Community Development Association, Zhang Yong-de (張永德), said: "Local elderly people kept recounting stories that I found fascinating, but I’d quickly forget them”- it was this which gave Zhang Yong-de the idea to create the picture book. Through recording the traditional fishing culture and memories of locals in the book, seniors in the community will hopefully begin sharing more of their beautiful stories and find a sense of worth again.

以下為中文對照

一到中午，長者們聚集在長青食堂，一同吃飯、聊天，笑聲絡繹不絕，這裡是宜蘭縣壯圍鄉的後埤社區。後埤社區屬於典型傳統漁村，以近海漁業捕撈為主，但隨著近海漁業沒落，讓傳統漁撈技法牽罟逐漸式微，人口外流更導致現在留在社區的居民大多是年長者。

為了讓留在社區內的長者找回光榮感，也記錄下傳統漁撈技法牽罟以及捕鰻苗文化，後埤社區靠著居民的努力，發行了第一本繪本《靠海吃穿・後埤人生》。

「老人有很多故事，邊聽邊覺得很有趣，但聽一聽就忘了。」後埤社區發展協會總幹事張永德說，於是他有了製作繪本的念頭。張永德希望透過繪本，把耆老的傳統記憶與漁村文化記錄下來，同時也讓社區耆老因為講故事，發現自身的價值，找回光榮感。

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