Abstract

On Taiwan's outlying Kinmen Islands, otters have become vibrant inhabitants of the islands' waterscape. As a critically endangered species found only in Kinmen within Taiwan's territories, otters have emerged as an affective actor in shaping policies and practices related to the islands' water environments. Yet, being a semiaquatic and nocturnal species that is not often seen by people, otters need to be made present to be affective. In this article, I engage with more-than-human political ecology to examine the role of otters in coproducing Kinmen's waterscape and investigate how this capacity has been fostered through increased alternative encounters. I trace the emergence of otters in public discourse and news media and examine how growing awareness of otters has led to the suspension of several development and water infrastructure projects, as well as the introduction of wildlife-friendly infrastructure and policies. I explore mechanisms that have rendered otters visible and affective, including otter celebrities, otter mascots and artworks, as well as monitoring and tracking efforts. I also identify several elements that contribute to cultivating otters' agency in the waterscape, such as otters' charisma, their endangered status and connection to Kinmen, and their embodiment within the waterscape. Through the case of Kinmen's otters, I suggest the importance of recognizing the affective capacities of nonhuman beings in the waterscape and the mechanisms that help develop these capacities. This consideration complicates our understanding of the politics surrounding the production of waterscapes and moves towards a more-than-human approach to the waterscape framework.

Keywords: otter, affection, representation, encounters, nonhuman charisma, more-than-human

How to Cite:

Chen, M., (2026) “Towards a more-than-human waterscape: The affective role of otters on the Kinmen Islands”, Journal of Political Ecology 33(1): 6440. doi: https://doi.org/10.2458/jpe.6440