TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – After 30 years of conservation efforts, researchers reported record numbers of the Formosa landlocked salmon (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus).

Once on the brink of extinction, inhabiting just a single stream in Shei-Pa National Park, the species now numbers 18,000 and has expanded its habitat to four streams. Park officials are planning educational activities such as donning wetsuits and entering streams to observe the native salmon, per CNA.

Early conservation of the species started with the salmon's lone habitat, Qijiawan Stream, where five dams were removed and 8.1 hectares of adjacent land were planted with trees, transforming Wuling Farm. Later, fish were released into the stream to promote breeding, and a patrol was deployed using the latest conservation technology. 

Shei-Pa National Park Headquarters Director Lin Wen-ho (林文和) said weather conditions like unpredictable rainfall have affected aquatic organisms. Lin said that Taiwan's average temperature has increased by 2.5 C in the past 30 years, forcing the Formosan landlocked salmon further upstream and compressing its original habitat. 

Lin said his office plans to improve the habitat of the salmon and increase the number of releases in 2024 and 2025. The goal for the next 10 years is to have a healthy self-reproducing population of more than 30,000 individuals in five streams.

Shei-Pa National Park reminded the public not to catch this critically endangered fish. The park also said regular educational activities are scheduled to teach the public about this endemic fish.