Environmental Management Administration

The Executive Yuan held the 2025 performance review meeting on Aug. 4 for the “Salute to the Sea – Coastal Cleanup and Maintenance Program,” examining the achievements of central government agencies and local governments in promoting coastal cleanliness and maintenance. Through the concerted efforts of all participating agencies, the amount of coastal waste identified through surveys has declined from 2,294 metric tons in 2019 to 772 metric tons in 2025, a reduction of approximately 66%. In this year’s results, 12 of the 15 assessed central government agencies received an “Outstanding” rating. Among the 19 coastal local governments, eight received an “Outstanding” rating and three received an “Excellent” rating. These results demonstrate the agencies’ active commitment to achieving the goal of cleaner oceans and their strong management resilience, laying a solid foundation for the long-term management and protection of Taiwan’s clean marine environment.

The Executive Yuan has promoted the Salute to the Sea policy since 2020, integrating central and local government efforts to implement mechanisms for “regular cleanup, immediate cleanup, emergency cleanup,” and waste reduction at the source along coastlines. In 2025, government agencies collectively removed approximately 84,000 metric tons of waste, including through river interception (54.2%), coastal cleanup operations (31.5%), and harbor seabed cleanup. In terms of the efficiency of handling reported cases, the average processing time for immediate cleanup reports accepted by central government agencies and local governments in 2025 met the policy target of completion within seven days. In terms of source management, the Fisheries Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture cumulatively subsidized 215,000 improved fishing floats and established 24 temporary aquaculture storage areas. The Ocean Conservation Administration of the Ocean Affairs Council recovered approximately 313 metric tons of marine debris and discarded fishing nets. The Ministry of Environment also worked closely with the Water Resources Agency, the Irrigation Agency, and local governments to prevent floating garbage in waterways and effectively stop waste from entering the ocean at the source. In concluding the meeting, Executive Yuan Minister without Portfolio Chen Chin-te noted that although Taiwan was hit by several strong typhoons in 2025, all agencies demonstrated a high degree of management resilience and actively restored coastal environments after the disasters, and their performance deserved recognition.

Chen said that the “Salute to the Sea – Coastal Cleanup and Maintenance Program” has established a clear interagency division of responsibilities and performance management mechanisms. He said the gradual improvement of Taiwan’s coastal environment through a systematic and step-by-step approach has not been easy. Looking ahead, he hoped that past implementation experience can be used to develop standard operating procedures or guidelines for coastal cleanup and maintenance, enabling related work to become part of each agency’s routine operations.

As the current “Salute to the Sea – Coastal Cleanup and Maintenance Program (2024–2027)” is scheduled to conclude in 2027, the Ministry of Environment has already initiated planning for the third phase of the program (2028–2031). Minister Chen instructed all ministries and agencies to comprehensively review past results and, in conjunction with practical needs and data analysis, formulate concrete source-reduction strategies and funding plans. The overall proposal is expected to be submitted to the Executive Yuan for review in February 2027, ensuring that the achievements of the Salute to the Sea initiative are sustained through long-term management.