IHB PhD students introduce to Han Changfu, minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the institute’s long-term connection with the Chishui River. (Image by IHB)

It is of great significance to protect the ecological environment of Chishui River, said HAN Changfu, minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, during his inspection tour of the fish resources monitoring site at a fishery dock in Chishui city on July 16.

The tour was to learn about the implementation of the fishing ban in the Chishui River and the livelihoods of affected fishermen after they bid farewell to nets and boats.

IHB PhD students QIN Qiang and YU Fandong introduced to Han the institute’s long-term connection with the Chishui River.

They particularly introduced the recovering of fish resources in Chishui River after the fishing ban was carried out.

Researchers working at the site also demonstrated the operational procedures for the monitoring of fish resources.

"The successful implementation of fishing ban in the Chishui River basin laid a foundation for the moratorium on fishing in key waters of the Yangtze River basin," Han said, adding that researchers shall keep doing their bit to "make Chishui more beautiful".

The Chishui River is the last undammed tributary of the upper Yangtze River, which provides important habitats and breeding grounds for many rare and endemic fishes in the upper Yangtze River.

Since the 1990s, IHB has been engaged in the investigation, monitoring and conservation of fish resources in the Chishui River basin, forming a backbone for the national Yangtze River protection strategy.

 
Fishes release into the wild (Image by IHB)

 
Researchers working at the site demonstrated the operational procedures for the monitoring of fish resources. (Image by IHB)