Nuclear plant discharge killing coral in Kenting National Park: researcher (Taiwan)

[jpak]

http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?ID=201008110045&Type=aSOC

Taipei, Aug 11 (CNA) Thermal discharge from a nuclear power plant in southern Taiwan is behind the rapid destruction of Kenting National Park's coral reef, a marine researcher said Wednesday, and he warned the reef's disappearance would jeopardize Taiwan's fishing industry and national security.

Allan Chen, a research fellow with Academia Sinica's Research Centre for Biodiversity, said the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant owned by state-run Taiwan Power Company has sped up the deterioration of corals by emitting thermal discharge that has driven local seawater temperatures 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius higher over the past 26 years.

Because of this and other anthropogenic disturbances, the number of coral types has fallen from 20-30 26 years ago to three today, Chen said.

Taiwan is rich in corals. Except for the sandy area of western Taiwan, various types of coral reefs can be found around the island and even off the outlying island of Penghu

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