Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Shanghai join efforts in Yangtze River fishing ban

2021-04-02 15:34:00

The standing committees of the People's Congress in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Shanghai, which together form the Yangtze River Delta region, introduced the progress in enforcing the 10-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River during a press conference on April 1.

According to the central government's plan, a complete 10-year fishing ban is imposed in key waters of the Yangtze, China's longest river starting January 1, in order to promote environmental protection and restoration in the upper and lower reaches of the river and in the whole river basin. As the delta region is moving towards integrated development, a national strategy, the three provinces and one metropolis have coordinated their efforts also in the fishing ban.

Slogans about fishing ban in the Yangtze River is seen in Changzhou. Photo/CFP

Such efforts involve making clear the related water area in the fishing ban, the responsibilities of government departments, the response to illegal acts, and the assistance to fishermen who retired their boats and nets to find new employment and resettle. While collaborating on the legislation, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Shanghai have also introduced their own policy that fits with local situations and needs.

Jiangsu is the only province in China to boast the great river, Yellow Seas and Lake Taihu at the same time so it has a long coastline and large water areas. This also means the province faces arduous and complicated challenges to implement the 10-year fishing moratorium. Thanks to great efforts, Jiangsu has essentially completed the key task of helping fishermen who retired their boats and nets to start a new life.

To effectively address issues in implementing the fishing ban, Jiangsu has introduced an action plan to promote joint administration of border areas together with neighboring cities and counties, and better deal with the illegal fishing, according to Xia Zhengfang, deputy director of the Legal Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress.

The legislatures in the region have achieved fruitful results in collaborative legislation. In 2018, the standing committees had made separate decisions on supporting and safeguarding the region’s higher quality integrated development. Then in September 2020, standing committees from Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang also made another legal decision to facilitate the delta’s Ecologically Friendly Development Zone.