To tackle coastal litter and actively promote marine environmental protection, the Executive Yuan approved the "Salute to the Sea – Coastal Cleanup and Maintenance Program" in May 2020. The program clearly defines the jurisdiction over Taiwan's 1,990 kilometers of coastline, assigns responsibilities to both central ministries and local governments, and establishes a cross-ministerial collaboration mechanism while engaging civil society. According to coastal waste stockpile monitoring commissioned by the Ministry of Environment, coastal waste volume decreased from 2,294 metric tons in 2019 to 981 metric tons in 2024—a reduction of approximately 60%. The 13 dirtiest coastlines once highlighted by environmental groups have also seen significant improvement thanks to joint efforts.

The Environmental Management Administration (EMA) of the Ministry of Environment noted that from 2020 to 2024, central and local governments collectively removed 277,000 metric tons of coastal waste. In addition to "end-of-pipe cleanups," source reduction and material recovery have also been core components of the Salute to the Sea policy. These include collaboration with the Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs to intercept around 45,000 metric tons of riverine waste upstream, and the Fisheries Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture implementing a real-name registration system for gillnets, ensuring all gillnet fishing vessels are now labeled before departing port. Additionally, 192,000 styrofoam floats have been replaced with improved alternatives. The Ocean Affairs Council has promoted the reuse of waste fishing nets, oyster ropes, and styrofoam floats, achieving a reuse volume of approximately 855 metric tons with a reuse rate of 73%.

The Ministry of Environment has also promoted upstream reduction initiatives such as plastic reduction in markets, a reusable cup rental system, restrictions on single-use tableware and bottled water in government offices and schools, and starting January 1, 2025, a full ban on single-use amenities in the lodging industry. These measures strike a balance between addressing symptoms and tackling root causes.

Transparency is another cornerstone of the Salute to the Sea policy. The Ministry of Environment conducts quarterly coastal cleanliness surveys and notifies responsible management agencies of the results. The ten cleanest and ten most litter-prone beaches are published on the Coastal Cleanup Information Platform (https://ecolife2.moenv.gov.tw/Coastal/Links).

In addition to official maintenance by managing agencies, public and community groups also participate through beach cleanup events. In 2024 alone, there were 11,291 beach cleanups, covering 10,025 kilometers and removing a total of 3,985 metric tons of coastal waste. Over the past five years (2020–2024), a cumulative total of 57,080 beach cleanup events were held, removing approximately 15,197 metric tons of waste.

The achievements of the “Salute to the Sea” initiative are not just the result of government efforts, but also depend on participation from businesses, academia, and the public. Moving forward, the Ministry of Environment will continue to promote coastal maintenance and marine pollution prevention, collaborating with relevant ministries and local governments to ensure the sustainable development of Taiwan's marine environment.