Fish populations in China’s Yangtze River have doubled since a 10-year fishing ban began in 2021, offering hope for global river restoration
From the article:
After decades of ecological decline, China’s Yangtze River, Asia’s longest and one of the most degraded waterways in the world, is showing hopeful signs of recovery. According to a new study published in Science, fish populations in the river have more than doubled in just two years following the country’s sweeping 10-year fishing ban introduced in 2021. The research, led by Fangyuan Xiong of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlights not only a boost in fish biomass and diversity but also an encouraging rebound of several endangered species. Experts say the results demonstrate how large-scale, well-funded political decisions can successfully reverse damage to freshwater ecosystems. “It is really fantastic news. It is one of the first times that we can say that government measures have not just worked, but have really improved things,” said Sébastien Brosse, a biologist at the University of Toulouse and co-author of the study.
In order to be successful, this fishing ban was accompanied by compensation to locals who depended on fishing the Yangtze for their livelihood and government assistance in finding alternative jobs. We can't expect people to choose respecting environmental protection laws over feeding their families.
