Rare fish back in China’s largest lake

NANCHANG, China (Xinhua) — It had been almost 10 years since Wang Shengbian, an aquatic animal specialist, last saw an ochetobius elongatus in Poyang Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake.

The fish, about 23 centimeters long and weighing 47.4 grams, was discovered during routine monitoring of the lake.

Ochetobius elongatus used to be a common fish species in the Yangtze River basin. However, due to environmental destruction, overfishing and human disturbance, the fish stock has reduced rapidly. It has become a critically endangered species.

“I was pleasantly surprised and contacted other experts to double-check the species,” Wang said. “The small fish is about one year old, which indicates that its population is recovering.”

According to Wang, the last time the species was spotted was in 2012. “It was like they had disappeared for a decade,” he said. “Poyang Lake has been ‘sick.’”

On 1 January 2021, a 10-year fishing ban took effect in pivotal waters of the Yangtze, after 332 conservation areas along the river enforced the fishing ban a year ago, to help the river recover from dwindling aquatic resources and degrading biodiversity.