The General Office of the Provincial Government recently issued the “Implementation Opinions on Strengthening the Protection of Aquatic Organisms in the Jiangsu Section of the Yangtze River”. The "Opinions" clarify that a year-round ban will be imposed on all fishing in the river by 2020.
The Opinions are released in accordance with a guideline issued last October by the State Council, China’s Cabinet, for the purpose of strengthening the protection of aquatic organisms in the Yangtze River that includes a year-round ban on all fishing in the river by 2020.
The guideline is aimed at increasing the diversity of aquatic organism species, aiding the recovery of fish resources, and improving the living environment of aquatic organisms in the Yangtze River.
According to the guideline, fishing, apart from fish farming, will be banned in the Yangtze and tributaries and lakes connected to it by 2020.
By 2035, the ecology of the Yangtze will be significantly improved; the habitats of aquatic organisms will be fully protected; aquatic resources will increase significantly; and its ecological functions will be effectively restored, the guideline said.
The guideline also said large amounts of fish fry are expected to be released into the river, with types and numbers chosen scientifically, to help replenish the river’s aquatic stocks.
The guideline said it is important to enhance the protection of the Yangtze finless porpoise, and promote “off-site” conservation projects in the middle and lower reaches of the river. A gene bank of important aquatic species will also be built to strengthen genetic research on rare and endangered species. Genetic techniques to resurrect recently extinct aquatic organisms will also be encouraged.
(Source: ourjiangsu.com)
