Book Introduction
Follow the little white rabbit on a journey to explore a century of fishing culture in Penghu.
Penghu is a small island located to the west of Taiwan and one of the country’s most important fishing regions. With a population of approximately 105,000, around 24,000 people are engaged in the fishing industry, accounting for nearly one quarter of the county’s population. The annual fisheries production value exceeds 2.2 billion NTD.
Fishing in Penghu is not merely an occupation—it is a way of life. It has shaped a unique coastal culture, including fishermen braving the open sea, elderly women harvesting seafood along the shore, and market vendors calling out lively bids at fish markets. It is also deeply intertwined with religious beliefs, particularly the worship of Wang Ye deities for safe seas and abundant catches, as well as the distinctive local Taiwanese dialect spoken in coastal communities.
Together, these elements form a vivid storytelling tradition that recounts over a century of fishing life in Penghu: how Taiwan’s seafood travels from the ocean to dining tables around the world; how religion sustains coastal communities; how gender roles are shaped within the fishing industry; and how everyday stories of fishing villages reflect both hardship and warmth.
In response to concerns over marine overexploitation, declining fish stocks, and the fading of local traditions as elder generations pass away, many young people have returned to Penghu, hoping to preserve and continue the stories of their homeland. The ocean, in return, has always given more than it takes—offering comfort, belonging, and an enduring sense of acceptance.
Taiwan is an island surrounded by the sea. By understanding the ocean, we allow it to become part of our everyday lives—and learn to listen to the stories it has to tell.
Author
Yiting Lü is an unconventional academic, history enthusiast, and anime fan. Deeply fascinated by the sea, she draws inspiration and affection from marine and fishing village cultures, and seeks to share this love with a wider audience. She also describes herself as someone who loves wandering—much like a little white rabbit traveling from Taiwan to Penghu to see the sea, or like seafood journeying from the ocean to the dinner table.
She hopes readers will follow the little white rabbit to discover the lively yet rich life of Penghu’s fishing villages, meet its warm and spirited people, and experience the joy of tasting the ocean’s gifts.
Illustrator
POBY YANG (real name: Yang Pei-yu) is a freelance visual designer and T-shirt creator from Nantou, Taiwan. Despite being born in a mountainous region, she has always been drawn to the sea.
Her career spans traditional industries and various part-time jobs, and she is an observant and experience-driven creator. A turning point in her life came in 2010 when she participated in environmental activism, which led her to collaborate with diverse communities including environmental, labor, migrant, food education, rural revitalization, arts, legal, human rights, and gender equality organizations.
She describes her creative practice as “surfing on interesting things,” using her work as a surfboard to ride across diverse social and cultural topics. She welcomes any interesting stories or ideas that come her way.