Confrontations among different tour operators have been nonstop at Yilan's Milk Sea. The county government said it will soon implement restrictions.
Yilan's Turtle Island Milk Sea is popular with standup paddleboarders, divers, whale watchers and fishing crews. As the area has become more popular with tourists, a great deal of conflict has arisen between the different groups. The county government is therefore implementing restrictions around the island, banning leisure activities.
Lee Tung-ju, Director, Yilan County Business and Tourism Department: “Per Article 60 of the Act for the Development of Tourism, violators will face fines of NT$10,000-50,000 and commercial entities will face fines of NT$50,000-200,000. ”
The restrictions will go into effect following a grace period. In the future, yachts will only be able to sail to within 200 meters of the island with no stopping and no water activities allowed on either end of the island. Violators will face fines of NT$10,000-50,000 while commercial operators will face fines of NT$50,000-200,000.
Tseng Sheng-hsiang, Cruise Operator: “Both whale-watching boats and yachts operate tours around Turtle Island. They should help promote each other.”
Chien Ming-yi, Director, Yilan County Whale-watching Promotion Association: “I also call on the county government to set up buoys.”
Yacht operators say whale-watching, sailboat and yacht cruises should be promoting each other to boost tourism, while whale-watching operators say the county government should set up buoys or markers in the restricted area to prevent future conflicts. The county government says it has applied to the Ocean Affairs Council for funds for buoys.
龜山島牛奶海搭配碧藍天空，成為旅遊熱點，吸引不少遊客打卡拍照，並從事sup與潛水等水域遊憩活動。遊艇業者也藉此興起，卻與當地繞島賞鯨船以及捕魚漁船，彼此互相干擾，引發不少衝突。縣府因此公告宜蘭縣龜山島近岸海域限制，禁止水域遊憩活動範圍、種類及活動注意事項，近期進入預告階段。
宜蘭縣政府工商旅遊處長李東儒表示：「只要違反了我們的公告內容，我們將會依照發展觀光條例第60條，基本上面會處1到5萬的罰鍰，不過如果是有營利性質的時候，罰鍰會提高到5萬到20萬。」
注意事項預告期滿，並經修正後，就會正式公告上路，內容規定，遊艇業者只能在龜山島離岸200公尺範圍內從事水域活動，龜首與龜尾則禁止水域活動，且不得停留，如在禁止區域從事水域遊憩活動，縣府可依照發展觀光條例60條規定，處1萬到5萬元的罰鍰，如行為具營利性質，罰鍰可提高到5萬到20萬，對此遊艇與賞鯨船業者各有看法。
遊艇業者曾聖翔指出：「其實賞鯨船跟帆船遊艇這邊，都是同時在經營龜山島這個水域的活動，基本上其實應該是互相幫助推廣。」
宜蘭縣賞鯨推廣協會總幹事簡明義說：「我也呼籲說縣政府能夠趕快做一個浮標。」
遊艇業者認為，賞鯨船跟帆船、遊艇之間，都是在經營龜山島水域活動，應該要互相幫助推廣，讓更多遊客認識龜山島。賞鯨船業者則希望，縣府能盡速在禁止水域遊憩活動的區域，設置浮標標示，這樣才能有效避免衝突再發生。縣府則說，已跟海委會爭取設置浮標的預算。
