Group of Taiwanese and French begin ocean exploration voyage

台灣與法國團隊開啟海洋探索之旅

Program to promote marine education, ocean culture, and international exchange


Taipei (Taiwan News) — The Ocean Affairs Council said that 62 teachers and students from Taiwan and France began a six-day ocean exploration voyage on Monday.

According to the council, the program aims to promote marine ecological education, enhance understanding of ocean culture, and strengthen international exchange. OAC Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲), Environmental Minister Peng Chi-meng (彭啟明), and French Office in Taipei Director Franck Paris were among the attendees at the launch ceremony held Monday at Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf, per CNA.

The council said the voyage will pass through Taoyuan's Zhuwei Fishing Harbor, Taichung's Wuqi Fishing Port, Penghu's Magong Port, and Tainan's Anping Port before docking at Kaohsiung's Pier-2 Art Center on Saturday.

Yue-Ming Elementary and Junior High School in Yilan is one of the participating schools. Huang Chien-jung (黃建榮), the school's principal, said that before the trip, students completed 35 training sessions covering sailboats, navigation, risk assessment, marine ecology, and emergency response.

Kuan said the council launched the program in 2020. Last year, the initiative included 460 students from 36 schools across Taiwan. This year's event received assistance from the French Office in Taipei.

This year's event also includes four researchers from the National Academy of Marine Research who will guide students in marine exploration, Kuan said. She noted the Coast Guard Administration will send personnel to monitor participants’ safety.

Kuan added that the council has been working with the Ministry of Environment to maintain the marine environment. The ministry is responsible for tracking and managing waste from land, while the OAC handles waste removal from the seas.

Paris said that four young individuals from Taiwan will attend the UN Ocean Conference in Nice in June with support from the Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative. He expressed his delight that Taiwan can participate in ocean protection worldwide.