Chongqing - In early April, the nights along the Yangtze River were still a bit chilly. Under the cover of darkness, iChongqing reporter Xiaolou joined Liu Hong and his volunteer fish protection team on a nighttime patrol of the Jiangjin section of the Yangtze, often referred to as the Mother River of the Chinese people. Despite the ten-year fishing ban, this section remains a hotspot for illegal fishing.

The patrol was led by Liu Hong, a recognized Chongqing Moral Model and founder of the Jiangjin Honghu Fish Protection Volunteer Team. Equipped with high-tech gear, including night-vision and thermal imaging scopes, Liu directed the nighttime operation. “Check if anyone’s fishing along the bank,” he instructed as we scanned the shoreline. Moments later, we spotted a poacher using artificial lures—an illegal method in this area due to concerns about overfishing and disruption of native fish during the spawning season.

Since 2021, commercial fishing has been banned in the Yangtze River to help restore its biodiversity. But enforcement remains a challenge. Liu’s team—many of whom are former Yangtze River fishermen—patrols tirelessly, even through the freezing winter months. “On Lunar New Year’s Eve, while families gather, we’re still on the river because poachers know there are fewer people around,” Liu told me.

During our patrol, I inquired about the potential consequences the poacher we’d just apprehended might face. Violators can be fined up to ¥5,000 ($690), although penalties vary depending on their level of cooperation. “If they refuse to report to the police, the consequences are more severe,” Liu explained.

As dawn broke, the cold and exhaustion began to set in—but for Liu’s team, it was just another night defending China’s beloved Mother River. Their dedication, guided by President Xi Jinping’s call to protect the Yangtze, represents a deeper mission: to strike a balance between ecological preservation and enforcement, ensuring a healthier river for future generations.

(Zhang Yu, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)