To increase green energy generation, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is promoting "fishery-electricity symbiosis" in coastal areas. However, the public believes that although the central government has a general policy direction, it lacks clear regulations and implementation principles, and the planning perspective is often based on developers, which does not necessarily take into account fishermen and environmental sustainability.
The Changhua County Wild Bird Society and the Changhua County Aquaculture Association jointly proposed a localized aquaculture and electricity symbiosis plan, emphasizing its suitability for the region's aquaculture characteristics and preventing industry from fully dominating the development. The plan proposes retaining the earthen dikes between aquaculture ponds as bird habitats, concentrating photovoltaic panels on aquaculture ponds with lower light requirements, and paving sidewalks around the sites. This approach balances environmental protection, fishermen's rights, and local needs.
Supporting green energy, but making sure it lives up to its name: Changhua groups jointly promote a local version of fishery-electricity symbiosis
The Changhua County Wild Bird Society and the Changhua County Aquaculture Association jointly proposed a locally adapted aquaculture-electricity symbiosis solution. A press release released today (the 13th) explained that the public hopes that photovoltaic panels in this "aquaculture-electricity symbiosis" system will protect aquaculture from heavy rainfall and high pond water levels in the summer, while also providing windbreaks in the winter to protect against cold snaps. At the same time, the introduction of photovoltaic panels into Changhua fish ponds must prioritize the ecological environment, the fishermen's economy, and the livelihoods of local residents.
In recent years, the government has been actively promoting the synergy of fisheries and electricity, which has attracted widespread public support due to its potential to diversify land use. However, synergy currently relies solely on central government policy, leaving local governments passively accepting development plans driven by photovoltaic companies. This may not necessarily lead to truly sustainable land use.
Li Yixin, Secretary-General of the Changhua County Wild Bird Association, said in an interview that Changhua residents welcome green energy, but hope that it can "live up to its name." Therefore, local environmental groups and industry professionals will proactively propose a fish-electricity symbiosis plan before photovoltaic companies move in.
Li Yixin said that green energy policies must take into account environmental sustainability. If this point is ignored, "it cannot be called green energy, it is just a development behavior."
Preserving earthen embankments as habitats for wild birds; installing photovoltaic panels in aquaculture ponds supports aquaculture strategies
Fish ponds in Changhua are often arranged back-to-back. Li Yixin explained that the shared embankment between the two ponds is usually a natural earthen embankment used by fishermen and their equipment, with sidewalks and roads on the other side. Due to past land reclamation, the Changhua intertidal zone, which currently provides bird habitat, has become fragmented. The area surrounding the fish ponds is one of the few remaining bird habitats in the area.
Therefore, the public suggests that in the future, the natural earth embankments between fish ponds should be preserved in Changhua's fish-electricity symbiosis. While carrying out aquaculture operations and solar photovoltaic symbiosis, it can also avoid further fragmentation of migratory bird habitats.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/234300)
