Kezailiao Harbor: A Paradise for Seafood Connoisseurs

Photo by Li Guei-sian

【◎Written by Li Guei-sian ◎Translation by Lin Yu-ciao ◎Photos by Li Guei-sian, Huang Jing-wun】

Kezailiao（蚵仔寮）is in Kaohsiung's Zihguan District（梓官區）. Kezailiao (蚵仔寮) means “oyster shack,” derived from the locals who cultivated oysters along the coast during the Cing Dynasty. During World War II, the Japanese government requisitioned the area for military use, and due to coastal erosion, the oyster racks gradually disappeared. In the 1980s, the flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) was a high-valued economic fisheries product. If the fishermen were lucky, they could earn millions in just one night. The grey mullet "Wujin" moniker is referred to as "gold" as it brings wealth to the local fishermen. Unfortunately, many local fishermen have recently been intercepted by other countries' fishing boats upstream, and this, combined with global climate change, has resulted in a significant decline in the capture of the coveted grey mullet.

Photo by Li Guei-sian

Photo by Huang Jing-wun

Photo by Li Guei-sian

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