Sturgeon release aids Yangtze’s ecosystem

Agricultural authorities released 5,100 Chinese sturgeon into the Yangtze River in Yichang, Hubei province, on March 26 to restore the fish’s population and improve the river’s ecosystem.

Yichang is located at the junction of the river’s upper and middle reaches.

The released sturgeon comprised 100 large specimens 95 to 115 centimeters long, and 5,000 smaller ones between 20 and 30 cm long.

One of the world’s oldest vertebrates, Chinese sturgeon have existed for 140 million years. They are a flagship species for the conservation of aquatic life in the Yangtze and are first-class protected wildlife in China.

The population shrank dramatically in the late 20th century due to the construction of dams along the river and other human activities.

The Chinese sturgeon conservation project in Yichang was established in 1996.