Sun Moon Lake steps up removal of invasive predator fish

Aug 21, 2026

Taiwan's Sun Moon Lake has pulled more than 25,000 juvenile predator fish out of the water this year, a huge win for the lake's native species — but the money for the program is running out.

  • Crews have netted over 25,000 young "lake bully" fish so far this year, more than 30 times last year's haul.
  • Recent sweeps are catching 3,000 to 5,000 at a time, and the total could top 30,000 before the season ends.
  • Nantou County's budget is nearly spent, so the operation is winding down even though breeding season is still going.
  • Residents worry the gap will let the invasive fish rebound and undo the progress.
  • The county is training local fishermen to keep catching them, and the fish can be sold to lakeside restaurants as a specialty dish for extra income.

Outlook: Removal work stops when the current funding runs out, with more money for next year still under discussion.

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