The coral reefs off the nation’s eastern coast, especially near Taitung County’s Shanyuan Bay (杉原灣) and Jihuei Fishing Port (基翬漁港), are rapidly being destroyed by construction development along the shore, environmental organizations said yesterday.

The groups made the statement as they publicized an annual report documenting findings on the health of the nation’s major coral reef habitats.

This year’s report was the third annual investigation of the nation’s coral reefs. Among the seven areas targeted this year were the northeast coast, Shanyuan Bay and Jihuei Fishing Port, Green Island (綠島), Orchid Island (蘭嶼), Dongyu­ping (東嶼坪) in Penghu County and Siaoliouciou (小琉球).