Woman fined NT$30,000 for releasing bags of goldfish as prayer
Woman fined NT$30,000 for releasing bags of goldfish as prayer
2026-03-12
A woman in New Taipei was so intent on wishing her mother good health that she’s taken the advice of a fortuneteller to release bagfuls of Shubunkin goldfish into the wild as prayer. She’s even documented her act—seven counts to be exact—on social media for the world to see. Someone eventually reported her to the local animal protection office, and she was tracked down and fined NT$30,000. New Taipei animal protection also took this instance to remind the public not to release any live animals into the wild.
Sunlight dapples the surface of the lake. It’s a beautiful morning at Bitan. This is also where someone released hundreds upon hundreds of goldfish and got fined.
The woman in a red dress is pictured releasing a large bag of goldfish into the lake. In another picture, she’s doing the same, releasing the bag of fish while standing by the lake. What she did was clearly against the law.
Lee Shih-chen
FTV reporter
At the time, the woman was releasing the fish in a bag into the water. She later posted photos and videos of it online, making for irrefutable evidence of legal violation.
The New Taipei animal protection office was reported of the act. The woman herself was 50-year-old Ms. Hsu. She bought bagfuls of Shubunkin goldfish to release into the lake, believing the act would bless her mother with good health. She also wrote in the caption that it’s her seventh time doing so. Locals say she’s not the only one to partake in the ritual.
Local resident
Xindian, New Taipei
It wouldn’t be here. The fish won’t be released from here, but from upstream, above the dam.
Local resident
Xindian, New Taipei
I’ve seen people release fishes here. Goldfish, koi, carp and the likes. It’s not as common anymore. If I see someone doing it, I might go over and tell them off.
Yang Shu-fang
New Taipei animal protection office
Releasing animals into the wild constitutes abandonment, which is a violation of the Animal Protection Act. Even though the party concerned stated that the act was one of filial piety to bless her mother, she still released animals, which causes harm. She’ll be fined NT$30,000 in accordance with clauses on animal abandonment in the Animal Protection Act.
The woman may have meant well, but her actions still caused harm to the goldfish. The animal protection office took the occasion to remind the public not to release animals into the wild, and to seek assistance from local authorities should they wish to let go of a pet.
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#animalwelfare #praying #spellcasting #witchcraft #goldfish
幫媽媽祈福 女子碧潭放生一袋朱文錦挨罰3萬
2026-03-12
新北市一名徐姓女子，為了幫媽媽祈福，竟聽信命理師建議買了一袋朱文錦，前往碧潭放生並拍照po上網，新北動保認定違法、開罰3萬元，同時提醒民眾外來種生存不易，呼籲民眾別讓孝心變違法。
陽光灑在靜謐的碧潭，又是一個美好早晨，但卻傳出民眾在這裡放生魚類，遭到開罰。
紅衣女子，拿起透明塑膠水袋往水裡倒，能隱約看見裏頭有橘色的魚，另一張照片女子換成黑衣服，一樣在倒魚，兩張照片都是站著倒魚，行為明顯觸法。
[[民視記者 李世宸]]
“當時女子把袋子裡的魚，倒進水裡，然後再把照片影片，通通PO上網，成了觸法鐵證”
新北動保處接獲檢舉，查到是50歲徐姓女子，為了祈求媽媽身體健康，才決定買來朱文錦放生，還自稱是第七次幫媽媽放生。在地居民也表示，過去就有不少民眾來這邊放生！
[[新店民眾]]
"不會在這邊啦，不會在這邊放，應該會在上游(放生)，水壩上面那邊應該會。"
[[新店民眾]]
"我有看過，在這個地方，放那種金魚、鯉魚，小鯉魚那一類的，現在比較沒看到了，如果有看到的話，應該會講一下"
[[新北市動保處長 楊淑方]]
“放生動物屬於棄養行為，已經違反動保法，雖然當事人表示，是出自於孝心為母親祈福，但實際放生，屬於傷害動物的行為，依照動保法棄養動物，將處3萬元罰鍰
“
其實類似的放生行為，還不少，動保處說不鼓勵任何放生行為，應該交由地方政府來處理，也請民眾注重動物保育觀念。
更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00
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