(November 16, 2000) The Chinese government on Saturday started a fishing ban along the entire Yangtze River, the country’s longest, aiming to protect depleting fish resources. The lower reaches of the Yangtze River from the Gezhou Dam to the river mouth started the three-month ban from April 1 to June 30, while the upper reaches started the ban on February 1 and will end on April 30. All fishing activities are banned during the period. If any state-level fry-breeding farms need to fish for fry, or any scientific institutions need to fish for research purposes, they must apply for approval from the Ministry of Agriculture. The ban also covered Poyang and Dongting lakes, two major fresh water lakes connected with the Yangtze. The fishing ban coincides with the spring season, when fish lay eggs. The Chinese authorities first imposed the ban on the lower reaches of the river in 2002 on a trial basis. In the following year, the central government extended the ban coverage to the entire river.

Xinhua, November 16, 2000