Chongqing-  Southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality has issued a fishing moratorium to 754 rivers to build an important ecological barrier on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, according to a press conference held recently.

The Decisions of the Standing Committee of the Chongqing Municipal People's Congress on Promoting and Ensuring the Ban on Fishing in the Yangtze River Basin came into effect on July 30.

Aquatic Life Reserve

Yang Hong, deputy director of the Chongqing Agriculture and Rural Committee, introduced that following the national deployment, the Chongqing Aquatic Biological Reserve has implemented a comprehensive ban on catching up aquatic organisms from January 1, 2020.

Furthermore, the city's mainstream and important tributaries of the Yangtze River and other key waters have implemented a ten-year ban on catching up aquatic organisms since January 1 this year.

Through classified implementation and continuous advancement, 5,342 fishing boats and 10,489 fishermen have given up their fishing careers. All 7,737 people who were willing to find employment were transferred to employment. All 10,419 people who met the conditions for insurance enrolled in endowment insurance. All 455 fishermen in difficulty were enrolled in the subsistence allowance.

At present, illegal fishing in Chongqing has been effectively curbed. The order of banning management remains stable and improving, and the Yangtze River's ban on catching up aquatic organisms has achieved important results in stages.

The complete local legislative system

In order to further ensure smooth implementation of the fishing ban, Chongqing has decided to improve systems through local legislation and provide detailed supplements to relevant laws.

Area of Fishing Prohibition

The delineation of areas for prohibited fishing is the key emphasis embodied by the total of 13 implemented Decisions. These mainly include six protected areas for aquatic organisms in the Yangtze River Basin, the mainstream of the Yangtze River, the five major tributaries of the Yangtze River, and eight key sub-tributaries as further prohibitions determined by the municipal people’s government.

Statistics show that there are 754 rivers where fishing is banned in Chongqing, running a total length of 18,000 kilometers. This has effectively formed an important ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

At the same time, in order to clarify prohibited areas and facilitate compliance with regulations, the Decisions require that the municipal, district, and county authorities install prohibition signs in relevant areas.

Fishing ban measures

The following step is a clarification of fishing ban regulations. The Decisions paper clearly states that all productive fishing activities are prohibited in all relevant areas within the time frame provided.

In the interests of a conducive atmosphere for society, completed regulations aim to foster public attitudes that dissuade river fishing and related market sales, restaurant dishes, and popular consumption.

For example, the purchase, sale, processing, transportation, and consumption of illegally caught fish and derived products are forbidden, whilst false publicity under categories including wild fish are also prohibited. 

Without a name, license, or registered port, vessels are barred from sailing or berthing in prohibited fishing areas.

In addition, prohibition measures also stipulate that recreational fishing may take place in prohibited areas outside the reserve for aquatic organisms and that specific management protocol is formulated by the administrative department of the Chongqing Agriculture and Rural Committee.