Evolution of stone fish weirs in Jibei area, Penghu Archipelago (eighteenth to twenty-first century)

Abstract

Jibei Island, in Taiwan's Penghu area, is famous for its abundance of stone fish weirs (SFWs). This research used historical charts, archives, and high-resolution orthophoto images for the SFWs mapping and spatial pattern analysis exercise. We found that the birthplace of SFWs was in the southern part of Jibei Port and Mudou Isle. In the early stage of the Japanese governing period (1895–1945), SFWs were mainly constructed in the North and North-West parts of the Jibel Isle and gradually migrated toward the east and north. In the middle to late Japanese governing period, the SFWs’ construction hot zone was in the South-West and South-East sides of the Jibei Isle. Understanding the SFW's evolution in the Jibel area is critical for local and regional cultural history, offering insights into land use and fish culture in Penghu and shedding light on ancient fishing culture in the broader pan-Pacific region.