Chinese Tourist Arrested for Catching Sea Turtle in Little Liuqiu, Faces Fine up to 300,000 TWD

(CNA) A Chinese man surnamed Liu, who was visiting Taiwan to stay with relatives, was caught by members of the public catching a sea turtle at Flower Vase Rock in Little Liuqiu yesterday afternoon. Coast Guard officers arrested him after investigating the report, and he has been handed over to the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office for violating the Wildlife Conservation Act. He faces a maximum fine of 300,000 TWD.

Zhang Long-quan, director of the Little Liuqiu Inspection Office of the Fifth Coast Guard Team under the Southern Branch of the Coast Guard Administration, stated in a media interview today that they received a report from the public around 4 PM on the 26th. The report included video footage of a tourist touching a sea turtle at the coast of Flower Vase Rock. Following the investigation, officers identified and arrested the Chinese man at the scene.

The video shows the man standing next to Flower Vase Rock, catching the sea turtle's torso with both hands and briefly lifting it out of the water. He only let go after losing his balance due to a wave. The man, in his 50s, claimed he was just admiring the sea and tried to move the turtle away when a wave pushed it toward him. However, officers stated that the illegal behavior was clearly evident in the footage. Little Liuqiu is a renowned habitat for protected sea turtles, and despite constant promotion of conservation rules on ferries and beaches, such incidents continue to occur. Authorities urge the public to follow the 'no contact, no interference, no feeding' principle.