Formosan Landlocked Salmon (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus) are migratory fish originally growing in the frigid-temperate zone in the Northern Hemisphere. During the period of reproduction, they go upstream from the ocean to the upstream of the river where they were born, mating and spawning there. After the eggs are hatched, parrs will swim back to the ocean for growth next spring. Going through the evolution for millions of years, this species of salmon is the only one in Taiwan that is supposed to live in the Frigid Zone but has been living in a special environment on the island as an ancient creature and living specimen. Based on the Cultural Heritage Preservation Law, Formosan Landlocked Salmon were listed as a precious natural property in July, 1984. As having trapped in the streams of the high mountains chronically, the salmon have lost the instinct of migration. At present, this type of landlocked salmon can only be found in Japan, Korea, and northeast China. Moreover, Formosan Landlocked Salmon in Taiwan are at the southernmost distribution in the world. Cijiawan Creek and Gaoshan Creek in the Wuling area on the east of Shei-Pa National Park are the only habitat for this species of salmon.
In order to conserve precious Formosan Landlocked Salmon and their habitats, Shei-Pa National Park Headquarters has done various kinds of conservation procedures on the streams and peripheral land where they inhabit. For example, the Headquarters established the long-term ecological monitoring area, conducted research and monitoring on all kinds of creatures and ecosystems, controlled the carrying capacity of visitors, restricted the land use, planted native tree species, constructed the refuge fish way, and dismantled four check dams along Gaoshan Creek to expand the habitats for Formosan Landlocked Salmon. On the basis of the Ecological Engineering Methods, the Headquarters set up an award-winning Formosan Landlocked Salmon Conservation Center, with the aim of artificially conserving the salmon. At present, an integrated operating process of artificial conservation has been established. Moreover, the monitoring of salmon discharge in historical river basins is scheduled to be done in a next few years.
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