Illegal fishing tackled

Undaunted, the team members quickly demonstrated how serious they were in promoting environmental protection by placing themselves at the forefront of a crackdown on illegal fishing.

On Jan 1, 2017, a 10-year fishing moratorium was introduced on the Chishui River, making it the first tributary of the Yangtze where fishing was banned. The prohibition was extended on Jan 1 this year to all the Yangtze's natural waterways.

Yang Liemeng, a founding member of the society who is now in charge of the patrol work, said, "We operate during the day and also at night to see if there are people fishing illegally."

A liquor dealer with flexible working hours, Yang said he patrols the river whenever he is free.

"As long as I am not away from the township, I will do this," he said, adding that he sometimes drags himself out of bed late at night if he receives a call telling him that someone is fishing illegally.

In the small hours one morning in July, 2018, Yang was punched in the head when he tried to stop a man who was breaching the fishing ban. His injuries were so serious that he required 15 stitches. The man responsible was given 15 days' criminal detention after Yang reported the case to police.

Yang remained determined to continue efforts to restore the river's water quality to its former level.

"During my childhood, the fish occasionally leaped out of the water," he said.

Relatives and friends gave Yang a total of about 8,000 yuan ($1,238) in cash when they visited him in the hospital, but he donated the money to the society to support its work. In many areas nationwide, it is customary for people to take cash gifts when they visit hospital patients.

After hearing Yang's story, some residents handed in their fishing equipment to the local government and applied to be members of the environmental organization.

According to the society, its membership has risen to more than 500, with each member paying an annual fee of 200 yuan.