China's decade-long fishing ban has been effective in improving the aquatic biodiversity along the Yangtze River, said an expert, calling for the continuation of these measures beyond the initial 10 years.
To restore the biodiversity along the river, China imposed a full fishing ban in 332 conservation areas of the Yangtze River basin in January 2020. The move has since been expanded to a 10-year moratorium along the river's main streams and major tributaries, effective Jan. 1, 2021.
Aquatic biodiversity in the Yangtze River basin has been recovering following the fishing ban.
From 2021 to 2024, 344 native fish species were monitored in the basin, an increase of 36 species compared with the 2017-2020 period that preceded the fishing ban.
"Across the entire Yangtze River basin, the 10-year fishing ban has proven highly effective. We believe that after this 10-year period concludes, it remains essential to further strengthen the protection of rare fish species. Continuing the implementation of a 10-year fishing ban (in the key habitats of rare species) will provide the necessary conditions and support for their full recovery," said Liu Huanzhang, a research fellow at the Institute of Hydrobiology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In addition, researchers from the Institute of Hydrobiology have been conducting field breeding experiments for certain rare fish species to help restore their wild populations.
In April this year, they released mature Yangtze sturgeons and established suitable spawning grounds at a section of the Chishui River, successfully inducing the released sturgeons to naturally spawn and hatch.
According to Liu, the research team also plans to apply these conservation techniques to the Chinese sturgeon, a species that has existed for more than 140 million years and is under top national protection.
10-year fishing ban effective in improving aquatic biodiversity along Yangtze River: expert
