New Taipei mayoral candidate experiences traditional 'Bong Huo Zai' fishing, aims to boost coastal tourism

Su Chiao-hui, a candidate for New Taipei mayor, recently visited Jingshan's Huanggang port to experience the traditional "Bong Huo Zai" fishing method firsthand. Accompanied by her team and local councilors, she observed the century-old technique, which utilizes calcium carbide reacting with water to produce acetylene gas. This gas ignites, creating a strong flame that attracts light-sensitive "qing lin" fish, allowing fishermen to cast their nets.

Su highlighted "Bong Huo Zai" as a precious intangible cultural asset of New Taipei City. She believes it offers a glimpse into the lives of early fishermen on the North Coast and showcases the region's beautiful coastal scenery and rich marine resources. Her "New Crown Coast" tourism plan aims to connect eight coastal areas from Bali to Gongliao, focusing on utilizing marine resources, developing transportation corridors, and revitalizing local facilities.

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Bong Huo Zai is a very precious intangible cultural asset of New Taipei City. It not only allows the public to understand the situation of early fishermen working on the North Coast, but also allows everyone to personally feel the beautiful coastal scenery and rich marine resources of the North Coast.

The candidate emphasized the importance of integrating local fishing associations into the tourism economy and conducting comprehensive reviews of 28 fishing ports to improve facilities for fishermen and visitors. She also plans to create a friendly transportation network to ensure easy access to the North Coast's attractions.

Currently, only two fishing boats in Taiwan, "Fu Ji 268" and "Hong Chang 168," still employ the "Bong Huo Zai" method due to changes in the fishing environment. Su hopes to expand promotional efforts for "Bong Huo Zai" experience tours, both on land and sea, and support local organizations in promoting products like "qing lin" fish crackers and sauces, thereby fostering cultural tourism and creating unique local brands.

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In the future, I hope to continue promoting Bong Huo Zai experience tours, both at sea and on land, through the city government's efforts. We also need to expand subsidies for private organizations and connect with local fishing associations to strengthen the promotion of characteristic products such as Qing Lin fish crackers, seasonings, and fish sauce made locally.