Throwing stones to provoke blue tears harms ecology – please encounter them in a “natural way”

▲Tourists throwing stones to provoke blue tears is a behavior that worries locals. (Photo/Cao Xiangguan)

Reported by Chen Ziying / Taipei

Yesterday (3rd), ETtoday EBC News reported“Don’t throw them anymore! Want to see fluorescent water splashes? Tourists actually hit the blue tears with rocks,” which stirred up strong reactions among netizens. The reporter contacted the original poster behind the call for awareness, Cao Xiangguan, head of the Finance Section of Nangan Township Office, who said that the act of picking up stones and throwing them at the blue tears not only impacts coastal ecology but is also very risky. He hopes travelers will view the blue tears in a “natural way.”

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Cao Xiangguan said that on the evening of May 1st, due to bright moonlight and calm winds, crowds gathered along the coast near Zhuluo in Nangan to throw stones. Although there is currently no scientific evidence that throwing stones damages the blue tears (recent studies suggest they could be caused by bioluminescent plankton or ostracods), he was concerned to see large groups of people continuously picking up and hurling stones into the sea. He explained that moving and tossing numerous small and large rocks from the shore into the ocean would definitely impact the coastal ecosystem. More importantly, it endangers the safety of visitors themselves. In the dark coastal areas where visibility is poor, it’s unclear what one might pick up, and randomly throwing stones could also injure others.


▲The “stone-throwing crowd” that emerged at Zhuluo Bay. (Photo/Cao Xiangguan)

In response, Wang Zhongming, director of the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration, believes that while the curiosity of tourists toward the blue tears is understandable, he strongly urges against using stone-throwing methods as it can easily harm others and damage natural landscapes. He suggests using long bamboo poles or water guns filled with water to gently disturb the water surface. Additionally, starting May 19th, the Beihai Tunnel in Nangan will offer oar-rowing tours under light-free conditions, allowing visitors toclosely witness the magical appearance of the blue tears.