By ZHONG Jianli

To accelerate the recovery of the Yangtze River's aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem, the General Office of the State Council recently issued a guideline on further advancing the 10-year fishing ban in the Yangtze waters.

The 10-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River took effect on January 1, 2021. In the three years, significant progress has been made in the river's ecological restoration, but problems such as insufficient law enforcement and supervision and slow recovery of aquatic biodiversity still exist.

The guideline calls for intensified efforts to protect rare and endangered species. Rescue action plans for the Chinese sturgeon, Yangtze sturgeon and Yangtze finless porpoise should be effectively implemented. More research and conservation efforts should be devoted to these iconic species at the national level by nurturing more experts and teams.

March 28 is the Chinese Sturgeon Protection Day. Photo taken on the day shows a number of Chinese sturgeons being released into the Yangtze River in Yichang city, Hubei province. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

Public awareness campaigns and international cooperation will be promoted to protect the Chinese sturgeon and other species. Social organizations are encouraged to participate in the broader efforts to protect the Yangtze's aquatic life and ecological restoration.

Restoring critical habitats for those endangered species is another key focus. The integrity of the aquatic ecosystem will be enhanced through stricter regulation of development activities and minimizing adverse impacts.

Monitoring and assessment of the Yangtze's aquatic resources will be strengthened. Technical standards and methods for biological surveys will be improved, and specialized training will be provided to survey personnel to ensure data quality and standardization.

Combating invasive alien species is also on the agenda. Regular monitoring and early warning systems will be established, with cross-border and regional collaboration to track and analyze invasion risks.

The guideline also said relevant local governments at all levels should bear the primary responsibility in implementing the 10-year fishing ban.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs should work together with related institutions to supervise and guide the work of resettling retired fishermen, monitoring law enforcement and protecting aquatic life.

Through these comprehensive measures, the 10-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River is poised to bring about a new era of aquatic biodiversity recovery and ecological restoration along the river.