Fishing Ban

The first annual fishing ban began on China’s Yellow River on April 1, in an effort to protect fishery resources and biodiversity along the second longest river in the country.

The ban, which will be in effect until June 30, covers the Yellow River’s main stream, three major lakes and 13 tributaries, according to a previous statement from the Ministry of Agriculture.

In Binzhou in east China’s Shandong Province, the local fishery regulator has taken measures to ensure that the ban is strictly enforced.

“There should be no fishing boats or nets in the Yellow River or fish caught from the river on the market,” according to an order issue by the regulator.

In Qihe County, local authorities have advised fishermen of the ban through various means of communication, including WeChat messages, posters and notices in local newspapers.

On the upper reaches of the Yellow River, fishery regulators in Qinghai Province launched an awareness campaign in early April, informing fishermen of the legal consequences of breaking the ban.

“We will step up our efforts to raise fishermen’s awareness of protecting the fishery resources and ecosystems in the Yellow River,” said He Xiaolin, Director of the provincial fishing administration.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, fishing for scientific studies and taming and breeding purposes during the ban should be approved by provincial or higherlevel authorities.

Provinces and autonomous regions can extend the fishing ban according to local needs, said the ministry.

China has also imposed a fishing ban along the Yangtze River, the longest river in the country. The annual ban, which runs from March 1 to June 30, covers the spawning season for most of the river’s aquatic life. It includes the entire river as well as key tributaries and lakes.

A similar fishing ban was applied to the Huaihe River, which runs almost parallel between the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.