\\This project aims to rescue, document, and promote an endangered and unique traditional eel-fishing technique—"疊鰻墩"—native to the coastal area of Hsinchu. This technique imitates the natural habitat of eels, embodying the local fishermen’s environmental wisdom and cultural significance. Through the collaboration between Zhujian Community College and the last remaining elderly fishermen, the project successfully transformed "疊鰻墩" into a distinctive course, which has since attracted attention from both formal and non-formal educational institutions.
The project’s goal is for students to complete the construction of an "eel mound" through immersive real-life gaming and teamwork, enabling them to understand the wisdom, skill, and environmental friendliness of traditional fishing. Furthermore, the project conducts teacher workshops for educators, integrating knowledge of eel ecology (such as hatching in the Mariana Trench and migrating via the Kuroshio Current) with the teaching of the "疊鰻墩" technique.
Hsinchu's "疊鰻墩": A Local Course Blending Ecology and Culture
In the coastal area of Hsinchu, a traditional eel-fishing technique known as "疊鰻墩" (Stacking Eel Mounds) is being brought back from the brink of extinction. This unique skill cleverly mimics the eel's natural habitat and fully utilizes the fish’s biological habits, embodying the local fishermen's environmental wisdom and the cultural significance of coexisting harmoniously with the ocean.
The continuation of this wisdom is attributed to the persistent efforts of Zhujian Community College. After several years of searching and interviewing, the college team finally persuaded one of the last remaining elderly fishermen in the Nanliao area to demonstrate this vanishing technique. Through documentation and planning, "疊鰻墩" was successfully transformed into a vibrant specialty course, which quickly captured the attention of educational institutions and teachers both inside and outside the formal system.
Zhujian Community College organized an in-depth "疊鰻墩" experience for students from an experimental education co-learning group. This was not merely a traditional culture lesson but an exploratory journey combining an immersive real-life game.
During the event, the elderly fisherman personally provided explanations and guidance on the structural principles of the "eel mound" and the migratory characteristics of the eels. Students had to complete puzzle-solving tasks and collaborate as a team in a simulated setting, ultimately building a complete "eel mound" with their own hands. This hands-on experience allowed students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the skills, wisdom, environmental friendliness, and cultural value inherent in traditional fishing methods.
The popularity of the "疊鰻墩" course continues to spread within the teaching community. Dazhuang Elementary School was the first to respond, inviting Zhujian instructors to share the topic during a Wednesday teacher professional development meeting. Subsequently, on October 9th, Nanliao Elementary School went further, collaborating with Zhujian Community College to plan a school-wide teacher workshop.
In this workshop, Community College instructor Wang Zhi-Ren did more than just teach the technique; he led participants on a grand ecological journey: tracing the eel's migration from its hatching in the distant Mariana Trench and its northward journey along the Kuroshio Current. Through presentations and documentary footage, he thoroughly explained the essence of the "疊鰻墩" technique.
The workshop successfully attracted over 60 enthusiastic educators from various schools. This solid foundation of ecological and cultural knowledge not only broadened the teachers' horizons but also laid the groundwork for them to design, plan, and create eel-related localized curriculum rooted in marine ecology.