Readers’ Photos

Xingda Harbor (Deng Zhenshi)

Kaohsiung’s Xingda Harbor is known as “the home of mullet,” and has long been a bastion for catching this fish, which fisher folk call “black gold” (the Chinese name for mullet, wuyu, means “black fish”). Wild mullet are an important economic product for nearshore fisheries, and during the mullet fishing season, as boats come in with their holds full of fish, workers at Xingda Harbor stay very busy processing the fresh catch.

Mending Nets (Wang Zhaogui)

Nanfang’ao Fishing Harbor in Yilan County is one of Taiwan’s three largest fishing harbors. Whenever fishing vessels return to port, damaged nets must be repaired, a labor-intensive task that carries on day and night.

Lanyang Mazu Cultural Festival (Chen Ziqing)

The Lanyang Mazu Cultural Festival is a major event held annually at Su’ao Fishing Harbor in Eastern Taiwan, with Mazu processions both on land and at sea. For the at-sea event, ships spray fishing boats with water as a symbol of good luck. All of the fishing vessels in the harbor set out together for the at-sea pilgrimage to pray to Mazu to keep them safe and bring them bountiful catches.

Zhengbin Fishing Port, Keelung (Luo Shuhui)

Keelung in Northern Taiwan is surrounded on three sides by mountains, while one side faces the sea. Its “ria” landform (a coastal inlet formed by the partial submergence of a river valley) provides a natural harbor where trade and tourism have long flourished. Keelung’s Zhengbin Fishing Harbor is a historic fishing port located in the southern part of Heping Island, just offshore from Keelung. The buildings along the waterfront are painted in charming pastel colors, creating a nostalgic cityscape.

Water Lanterns at Jinhu Fishing Harbor (Zhuang Zhengting)

The annual Qianshuizhuang ceremony in Yunlin County’s Kouhu Township, commemorating the deadly floods of 1845, is designated as intangible cultural heritage of national importance. As part of the event, water lanterns are released at Jinhu Fishing Harbor. People put to sea on pipe rafts to experience the mysterious atmosphere of the water lanterns up close. The eye-catching lanterns floating on the pitch-black seawater look like small lighthouses.

Wenzi Fishing Harbor, Changhua (Zhuang Zhengting)

At Wenzi Fishing Harbor in Changhua County’s Xianxi Township, after a new fishing vessel is launched a ceremony called zhiji (“casting auspiciousness”) is held in which the new boat is led into port by older boats, and after the new boat ties up at the harborside, the crew throws a full ton of foods such as mochi rice cakes, candy, and steamed buns from the boat while people on shore vie to catch these treats. The event symbolizes abundant catches for the new vessel. Part of the Taiwanese Hokkien word for mochi sounds like the word for “auspicious,” meaning that those who catch the mochi or candy will enjoy happiness and good fortune.

Wangye Boat Ritual on Xiaoliuqiu (Wu Yuli)

The “Welcoming Wangye” ritual takes place once every three years in Donggang Township, Pingtung County. This is a major religious and cultural ceremony that has been carried on in the area of Donggang, Liuqiu, and Nanzhou townships for over a century. The Wangye boat used on Xiaoliuqiu Island is the smallest of the three townships, but the Wangye pilgrimage procession can be seen going everywhere, even along this narrow pathway beside the fishing harbor. 

Dawn at Nanfang’ao (Xu Jia’en)

Nanfang’ao is Eastern Taiwan’s largest land-tied island. The Kuroshio Current, which flows past Nanfang’ao, brings large numbers of migratory fish, forming a rich fishing ground and making Nanfang’ao Fishing Harbor an important base for both nearshore and distant-water fishing vessels. In the early morning sun, the harbor takes on an enchanting vibe.

Hsinchu Fishing Harbor (Xu Jia’en)

With the arrival of the main fishing season, fishing vessels come into port to make ready for going to sea. The boats take on additional fishing gear and do the necessary preparations and checks prior to setting out. In this photo, a crew member is painting the hull of a fishing vessel at sunset.