TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A fisherman surnamed Lin in Yilan County caught a rare live Rumphius' slit shell (龍宮翁戎螺) and announced Monday (Sept. 23) his willingness to sell it for a reasonable price rather than return it to nature.
The National Taiwan Museum (國立台灣博物館) took to its Facebook page Monday morning to urge against hoarding wild species. They emphasized the importance of returning such creatures to their natural habitats to ensure future generations can enjoy these resources.
The museum pointed out that Rumphius' slit shell, the largest species in the slit shell family, primarily inhabits the deep sea of the western Pacific and is frequently recorded in Taiwan's northeastern waters. This species holds significant value for studying mollusk evolutionary history.
However, Lin defended his choice to sell, pointing out that on top of the financial costs of his fishing expeditions, which last six to seven hours and consume substantial fuel, the slit shell is not a protected species.
He explained that if here had caught a protected species like a green sea turtle, he would release it, but as the slit shells aren't so, Lin hopes to sell it for no less than NT$60,000, the price he received for a previous catch.
He caught the larger specimen on Sept. 21 in waters about an hour's sail from Guishan Island, which he is now selling online.
Lin admitted he doesn't know how to care for the shell and has stayed up with his wife for the past two nights, worried about maintaining the water temperature. They frequently buy ice to keep the water between 16 and 17 degrees Celsius.
Chen Hsiu-nuan (陳秀暖), the secretary-general of the Yilan County Toucheng District Fishermen's Association (宜蘭縣頭城區漁會), said they respect the museum's perspective. However, if someone is willing to collect and breed the shell, it could be another form of protection.