Aquatic biodiversity in the Yangtze River Basin continues to recover. Monitoring data shows that from 2021 to 2024, a total of 344 indigenous fish species were monitored in the Yangtze River Basin, an increase of 36 species compared with before the fishing ban (2017 to 2020).
This is what the reporter learned from the on-site promotion meeting of the ten-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Hubei on the 9th.
According to reports, since the launch of the ten-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, has supported local governments in improving the fishery law enforcement capabilities and conditions, and has also jointly deployed special operations such as "Fishing Administration Sword", "Safe Yangtze River", and "Spring Fishing Protection" regional battles, and severely cracked down on illegal fishing. In 2024, administrative cases involving fishery fell by 24.7% year-on-year, and fell by 3.3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025. In 2024, the unit resources of the monitoring points of the main stream of the Yangtze River increased by 9.5% year-on-year, and the aquatic biological integrity index continued to improve.
The ecosystem of the Yangtze River waters has been damaged for a long time. Although resources have been initially recovered, the comprehensive recovery of biodiversity still faces complex challenges. The Yangtze River's ten-year fishing ban goal has not been achieved. It is necessary to eliminate interference, eliminate noises such as "there are a lot of fish" and "there are many fishes to cause disasters", persist in working hard for a long time, continue to pay attention to it, and unswervingly promote implementation.
The next step is to strengthen departmental coordination and social participation, accelerate the rescue of flagship species in the Yangtze River, continue to deepen the restoration of important habitats, scientifically implement proliferation and release, strengthen aquatic biological protection, and promote the overall restoration of water ecology.
