According to relevant documents of the CPC Central Committee, Chongqing has formulated a three-step plan to stop fishing in the Chongqing section of the Yangtze River. Since January 1, 2020, a total ban on productive fishing has been put into effect in the aquatic organism conservation zones, marking the formal implementation of the normalized ban on fishing in the Yangtze River Basin.

On December 20, 2019, Zhang Xueli and his wife went to collect the net that had been set for two days and two nights, but they only found four fishes. Having been fishing for 16 years, Zhang can’t help but be disappointed at the harvest.

Zhang said that the natives of Gaoyang Town always make a living in their given circumstances. Life would go on even fishing is not allowed. An ecological forest of oranges planted by the local government years ago surrounds his old house. He didn’t carefully manage the forest in the past years because of fishing, but he could earn his living in the future 10 years by focusing on it.

In addition to planting trees on the shore, Xiang Yimei clears the flotsam off the lake once in a while to earn some money. Every time they finished fishing, they have to clear the garbage from the net for a long time, so they hate the flotsam.

The couple is looking forward to the future life. They could still fish as long as the national polices allow fishing 10 years later. By then, they will be happy with the picturesque scenery, the forest overgrown with oranges and the fish stacking up in their boat.

Ten-Year Fishing Ban

Since 00:00, January 1, 2020, a perennial ban on fishing has been put into effect in relevant waters such as the aquatic organism conservation zones in 18 districts/counties of Chongqing and the Two Rivers and Four Riversides in the main urban area. It marks that the normalized prohibition on fishing along the Yangtze River has entered the formal implementation phase.

On the first day of the new ban period, Chongqing launched a coordinated patrol against illegal fishing, with a total mileage of more than 800km.

Located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Chongqing boasts a large number of rivers and abundant fishery resources. According to relevant documents issued by the General Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on strengthening the protection of aquatic organisms in the Yangtze River, Chongqing must complete the withdrawal of fishermen from the aquatic organism conservation zones by late 2019 and bring a total ban into effect from January 1, 2020. By the end of 2020, the city is required to complete the withdrawal of fishermen from the stem stream and important tributaries of the Yangtze River, with a provisional 10-year ban.

Source: Shangyou News