A delegation led by JIANG Kaiyong, director of the Yangtze River Basin Fisheries Supervision and Administration Office under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (MARA), visited the Chishui Field Station on Jan. 15, 2025. (Credit: IHB)

On January 15, 2025, a high-level delegation led by JIANG Kaiyong, director of the Yangtze River Basin Fisheries Supervision and Administration Office under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (MARA), and LIU Zhongsong, director of the Fishery Law Enforcement and Support Center of MARA, visited the Chishui Field Station for Conservation of Rare and Endemic Fishes of the Upper Yangtze River and Monitoring of River Ecosystem (hereinafter referred to as the "Chishui Field Station").

During the visit, XIE Shouqi, deputy director of the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, extended a warm welcome, while LIU Huanzhang, director of the Chishui Field Station, presented the station's accomplishments in fish resource monitoring, habitat restoration, and the breeding of rare and endemic fish species. He also highlighted the station's role in evaluating the impact of the Yangtze River's 10-year fishing ban and the cleanup of small hydropower stations. Liu further outlined future development plans, which were met with strong approval from the delegation. The officials praised IHB's contributions to ecological conservation in the Chishui River Basin and stressed the need for continued collaboration to safeguard the river's pristine environment.

The Chishui River, the only major tributary in the upper Yangtze River basin without dams, remains a vital natural habitat and a key part of the National Nature Reserve for Rare and Endemic Fish in the Upper Yangtze River. It serves as a pilot zone for the Yangtze River's 10-year fishing ban and the cleanup of small hydropower stations along the Yangtze Economic Belt. Since the 1990s, IHB has been at the forefront of aquatic biodiversity conservation and research in the Chishui River, playing a crucial role in establishing the reserve and advancing related policies.

To further advance ecological protection and restoration efforts, IHB completed the first phase of the Chishui Field Station in June 2021 with support from MARA and other relevant departments. The station was also designated as the "MARA Base for Rare and Endemic Fish Protection in the Chishui River." The second phase of the project, the Upper Yangtze Rare and Endangered Species Conservation Center, is set to launch soon. Once completed, the station is expected to significantly enhance the protection and restoration of rare and endangered fish species in the upper Yangtze River, contributing to the broader goals of the Yangtze River conservation initiative. 

The visit underscored the importance of cross-departmental collaboration in achieving sustainable ecological conservation and highlighted the Chishui River's critical role in China's environmental protection efforts.