Spring Fishing Ban Implemented in Major Inland Waters of China

A spring fishing ban has been put into effect in several major inland water systems in China, including the Pearl River, Huaihe River, Qiantang River, Minjiang River and inland waters in Hainan Province, running from 00:00 on March 1 to 24:00 on June 30.

During the ban period, all fishing operations are prohibited except for recreational angling and leisure fisheries. Local authorities have been carrying out the spring fishing ban management in an orderly manner under unified arrangements.

The Pearl River and other involved rivers are important inland water systems in China, playing a crucial role in aquatic biodiversity conservation and water ecological protection. A total of 659 fish species have been recorded in the Pearl River through monitoring.

The spring fishing ban is implemented to protect aquatic biological resources. This year marks the first year of the implementation of the newly revised Fisheries Law and the 10th year since the optimization and adjustment of the fishing ban system in waters such as the Pearl River.

During the ban period, local authorities will strengthen publicity and guidance, popularize the spring fishing ban policy and the consequences of illegal fishing in fishing areas and villages in combination with the promotion of the Fisheries Law, and encourage the public to supervise and report illegal fishing activities to create a sound atmosphere for the ban.

Efforts will also be made to enhance law enforcement supervision, focusing on key waters and periods to organize special surprise inspections, severely crack down on illegal activities such as electric fishing, poison fishing and explosive fishing as well as illegal "catching-transporting-selling" gangs, and strengthen the connection between administrative law enforcement and criminal justice.

To improve law enforcement effectiveness, experience from the 10-year Yangtze River fishing ban and marine fishery administration law enforcement will be learned, and the construction of law enforcement capabilities and teams will be strengthened. Regular unannounced inspections will be carried out to effectively rectify potential problems.

Relevant departments will increase efforts in inspections and supervision to effectively maintain the management order during the spring fishing ban, strengthen species protection and habitat restoration, protect aquatic biological resources and the water ecological environment, and promote ecological civilization construction and high-quality development of the fishery industry.