The first phase of constructing the Chishui Field Station for Conservation of Rare and Endemic Fishes of the Upper Yangtze River and Monitoring of River Ecosystem was completed on June 23, 2021. (Credit: IHB)

The first phase of constructing the Chishui Field Station for Conservation of Rare and Endemic Fishes of the Upper Yangtze River and Monitoring of River Ecosystem was completed on June 23, 2021, almost six months ahead of schedule.   

The station covers a land area of 12.42 mu, of which the first phase research and administration buildings cover a floor area of more than 1,700㎡.    

Besides, the first phase includes an outdoor research and breeding experimental area with a total area of 2,000 ㎡ and 30 breeding ponds.   

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 that were seriously affected by hydropower cascade development in the upper Yangtze River.    

Over the past two decades, IHB researchers conducted monitoring on the aquatic biodiversity of the Chishui River basin, and pushed forward the establishment of the Chishui National Reserve of Aquatic Animals and the Chishui Field Station.    

IHB’s director YIN Zhan and ZHANG Bo (R), Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, unveil the plaque for the Chishui Field Station.  (Credit: IHB)  

MA Yi, director of the Yangtze River Basin Fishery Administration Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), and KUANG Shunhang, Party secretary of Chishui city, unveil the plaque for the Chishui Conservation Center of Rare and Endemic Fishes of MARA.  (Credit: IHB)