Liu Wenzheng (middle), the director of Yuying, won the national special award for his lesson plan "The Hometown of Mackerel". It explores the phenomenon of "over-fishing" of mackerel that is getting smaller and smaller, which is thought-provoking.

(Photographed by reporter You Mingjin)

[Reporter You Mingjin/Report from Yilan] Yilan County Yuying Elementary School was selected as a high-quality team for innovative teaching in marine education by the Ministry of Education and the Marine Education Promoter Award.

The director of the school, Liu Wenzheng, won the national special award in the "Fish and You Mutual Education-Fish Eating Teaching Plan Selection Competition" of the Council of Agriculture with the "Hometown of Mackerel" teaching plan.

Liu Wenzheng's teaching plan discusses the phenomenon of "over-fishing" in which mackerel is less and less caught and smaller and smaller, based on his grandfather's painting of returning home with a full load, which is thought-provoking.

Liu Wenzheng took part in the "2022 Fish You Live Together - Fish Eating" organized by the Fisheries Department of the Council of Agriculture and the Taiwan Aquaculture Fisheries Development Foundation with the lesson plan of "The Hometown of Mackerel - Mackerel and Nanfang Australia's "Source" and "Fate"" "Teaching Plan Selection Competition" won the national special award.

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Liu Wenzheng is the son of a Nanfangao fisherman. His grandfather Liu Shenggen was a painter of the late Nanfangao captain. His paintings recorded beautiful marine stories. Liu Wenzheng discussed the overfishing in recent years based on his longing for his grandfather and his concern for his hometown. The phenomenon of "overfishing".

Liu Wenzheng explored Grandpa’s story about sea-chasing and the mackerel fishery process in Nanfang Australia, let the children understand the fishery development of Nanfang Australia, improved students’ marine education knowledge and marine ecological conservation literacy, and led the children to create images of Nanfang Australia to let their imaginations play freely.

Liu Wenzheng said that mackerel is the main catch in Nanfang Australia, with an annual catch of about 40,000 to 50,000 tons, accounting for more than 90% of the country's total mackerel production. There are a lot of fish and they are easy to catch, and there are a lot of them at once. Now the mackerel in Nanfang Australia is getting smaller and smaller. Using this as the theme, guide children to observe from the fish farm to the dining table, hoping to protect the mackerel so that they can multiply forever. Let the reputation of "the hometown of mackerel" be passed down.

Liu Wenzheng believes that if the mackerel fishery in Nanfangao Fishing Port is to be operated sustainably, the ecological environment of the fishery must be maintained, and the fishermen's fishing methods should also be adjusted appropriately, such as changing the "large seine" fishing method back to the traditional "one-line fishing method". "Only in this way can the fishery not be exhausted, and the mackerel fishery in Nanfangao can continue to develop.

Yuyingying Elementary School also won the Special Excellence in the selection of high-quality teams for innovative teaching in marine education, and the Marine Education Promoter Award of the Ministry of Education. The winners include principal Liu Junren, director Liu Wenzheng, teachers Xie Yanpu, Li Peiying, Li Liying, Chen Ruilong, etc.

Yu Yingying presented an award to the county magistrate Lin Zimiao at the county affairs meeting today to share the glory; Liu Wenzheng also presented a painting of Grandpa. Liu Wenzheng said that this painting is two fishing boats returning with a full load. The boat is full of soil worms (Majia fish), and sent this painting to the county magistrate, hoping that the county government will flourish, and also hope to focus on the protection of fishery resources and ecological resources.

In addition, Jiang Zhikai and Huang Liru, teachers from Chenggong Elementary School in Yilan County, were selected as "Excellent Teaching Plans" by the Ministry of Education's National Defense Education Integrated Course Teaching Plans for National Primary and Secondary Schools with their teaching plan "Protecting the Nation Together, Keeping the Country Safe and Healthy".

At the county affairs meeting today, Liu Wenzheng presented a painting of Grandpa as a gift, and the two fishing boats returned with a full load, hoping to focus on the protection of fishery resources and ecology.

(Photographed by reporter You Mingjin)