Oxcarts Harvesting Oysters from the Sea – Taiwan’s Last 26 Sea Cows Become a Tourist Highlight

▲ Traditional sea cow oyster harvesting offers visitors a novel way to gather oysters. (Photo / Lin Yu-Yung, provided by the Council of Agriculture’s Fisheries Agency)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

To develop traditional fishing village culture and meet the public's demand for tourism and leisure, the Council of Agriculture’s Fisheries Agency has collaborated with local governments to launch the “New Taipei City Jinshan Fire-Jumping Fishing” and “Changhua Fangyuan Sea Cow Oyster Harvesting” events. These initiatives combine leisure fishing activities unique to their respective regions, inviting people across the nation to experience the distinctive culture of traditional fishing villages.

Deputy Director of the Fisheries Agency, Chen Chun-Ju, explained that “fire-jumping fishing” involves using “sulfur stones” mixed with water to produce acetylene, which is then ignited to create a bright yellow flame that attracts fish. The New Taipei City Jinshan District is home to the only four remaining traditional fire-jumping fishing boats in Taiwan. Meanwhile, the Fanwa Community in Fangyuan Township, Changhua County, features the unique practice of “sea cow oyster harvesting,” the only fishing village in Taiwan where oysters are collected by driving ox-drawn carts into the sea. This method helps reduce the impact on intertidal ecosystems, though there are now only 26 sea cows left.More photos)

▲ A real scene of sea cow oyster harvesting in Fangyuan Township, Changhua. (Photo / Lin ? Xin, provided by the Council of Agriculture’s Fisheries Agency)

The Jinshan Fire-Jumping Fishing event will take place on May 25, 26, and June 1, 2 at Huanggang and Fuji Fishing Harbors. The Changhua Sea Cow Oyster Harvesting event will feature five guided tours on June 15, 22, 23, 29, and 30, with each tour limited to 40 participants at a fee of NT$288 per person.