Rare fish rebound in Chongqing section of river thanks to 10-year moratorium

Rare and endangered fish species such as the Yangtze sturgeon, a fish under first-class State protection in China, are being discovered more frequently in the Chongqing section of the Yangtze River than two years ago, according to a report released by the municipal government on Aug 16.

Monitoring of 133 local fish species shows that biodiversity in that area of the Yangtze River Basin is beginning to recover, with the number of rare fish species and aquatic resources increasing.

Stretching over 6,300 kilometers, the Yangtze has rich biodiversity, but overfishing and pollution have threatened aquatic life and depleted fish stocks.

On Jan 1, 2021, China imposed a 10-year fishing ban in the Yangtze's pivotal waters to help reverse the trend.

In July that year, Chongqing issued detailed rules, including designating specific areas and time limits for individual fishing, in an effort to help correct the problem.

"Positive progress as a result of the fishing ban has been made in Chongqing," said Mo Jie, deputy director of the Chongqing Agricultural and Rural Affairs Bureau, at a news conference in Chongqing on July 3. Mo added that this year marks the third year of the city's 10-year ban, as well as the last year of its three-year plan to strengthen the policy.