TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kinmen Intertidal Zone Society Chair Hung Ching-chang (洪清漳) on Wednesday urged the Kinmen County Government to step up efforts to remove salt marsh cordgrass between the mouth of the Wujiang River and Xiashu after spotting new sprouts in the area.
Salt marsh cordgrass was first detected in Kinmen in 2017 and has since damaged the island's wetlands and intertidal ecosystems, threatening the habitat of the endangered tri-spine horseshoe crab, per CNA. The county government has spent years trying to eradicate the invasive species.
After spotting new growth between the mouth of the Wujiang River and Xiashu, Hung urged the government to act quickly before the invasive species becomes reestablished. He said removing the sprouts promptly, either by digging them up or burying them, could prevent another large-scale infestation.
Hung has long argued that salt marsh cordgrass should be removed before infestations become extensive enough to require heavy machinery, per UDN. He warned that if operators fail to remove the plant's roots completely, heavy equipment could spread the invasive species rather than contain it.
The county's eradication strategy has previously drawn criticism. In 2024, KMT Kinmen County Councilor Wang Hsiu-yu (王秀玉) echoed Hung's concerns and urged the government to review its approach, per CNA. County official Huang Ju-hsin (黃儒新) responded that experts recommend burying removed salt marsh cordgrass at least one to two meters underground, suggesting earlier efforts may not have followed that guidance.
Responding to Hung's latest comments, the Kinmen County Government's Department of Economic Development said the plant's ability to regenerate from its roots makes new sprouts a normal occurrence. The department said newer contracts require contractors to keep treated areas free of salt marsh cordgrass until the contracts expire and added that it would invite experts to review its eradication efforts.
Kinmen National Park has also come under scrutiny after removed salt marsh cordgrass was found on Guishan Beach in Lieyu Township, per Liberty Times. Hung warned that tides could carry the invasive species to other coastlines, expanding the infestation.
The park said recent heavy rain washed away salt marsh cordgrass that contractors had not yet buried. It said contractors would not intentionally dispose of the invasive plant carelessly and that it would require them to address the situation.
Salt marsh cordgrass has also been found along Penghu's coastline, raising concerns about its impact on the local ecosystem, per Liberty Times. As of late 2025, the invasive species had been identified in Shagang and Chenggong Fishing Harbor in Huxi Township.
