Selective Preference of the 5th Cyber-Island Photography Contest
Photographer: Xiao-Min Hong
Date and place photos were taken: 2010; Off the eastern coast of Taiwan

The operation of longline fishery

In summer, the fishermen in Shingang of Taitung County mainly use longlines to catch Common dolphinfish and sailfish. The fishing season is February to mid-October; peak fishing period is mid-March to mid-May.

Powerful harpoon

Uncle Yong-Fu stood on the harpoon platform and raised the harpoon high; ready to strike the sailfish.

Firework celebration of the Sailfish God

There is only one Sailfish God sculpture in Taiwan and it is located in the Wu-Fu Temple, Chen-Gong Township of Taitung county. Every year at the Lantern Festival, the Sailfish God sculpture is paraded in the smoke of firecrackers.

Return with full load

People who live in the same village as the fishermen all await a full-load return. The fishermen came back with a full load to honor the commitment they made to themselves. The pressure transfers into joy and a sense of fulfillment.

To load up Common dolphinfish

Calling out “Heyshow, Heyshow” together, the fishermen strived to pile up 9,000 kilograms of Common dolphinfish on the deck like a mountain.

Wrestling with the thresher

The thresher swung its body forcefully and, after a few thumps, broke the bamboo frame which carried it. Finally, all the fishermen worked together and returned the fish to the sea.

“Sea-men” is the kind of “riders to the sea” who I adore the most.

In summer, boiling sun accompanies sea-men; in winter, it’s cold, biting wind. The environment of the vast ocean has changed in the past twenty or thirty years, but the fishing method stays the same as that in the Japanese colonial period. To live off the sea, a sea-man requires not only persevering endurance, sharp eyesight, and physical prowess but also years of fishing experience. He has to possess knowledge of the messages hidden in the scent of the sea and understand the changes of tide and waterway.

My job provides me with the opportunities to participate in fishing tasks. How true it is to say that difference in profession makes one feel worlds apart. The first qualification that a sea-man should have is not professional fishing skills but the ability to stay awake at sea. Natural elements such as the ups and downs of undulating waves, the burning sun or the bone-chilling wind can paralyze one’s capability. The captain often said, “It is such a hard labor; I feel bad that you should come along.” But, my father used to be a sea-man and I want to know more about the story of seamen.

Carrying my photography equipment, whether there is blazing sun or freezing wind, I am enjoying the sea journey.

To view Gold Prize of the 5th Cyber-Island Photography Contest, please go to The Funeral Orchestra.

Text and images are provided by Exhibition of Cyber Island, Taiwan