China’s ambitious decade-long fishing moratorium along the Yangtze River has achieved significant milestones in ecological restoration and social transition, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The comprehensive conservation initiative, designed to revive the world’s third-longest river system, has produced tangible results in biodiversity recovery while ensuring sustainable livelihoods for displaced fishing communities.
The government’s multi-faceted approach has successfully addressed the human dimension of this ecological transformation. Through coordinated efforts across departments, authorities have implemented comprehensive support measures for former fishermen. By September’s end, all 142,000 job-seeking fishermen had secured reemployment opportunities, while 220,000 eligible individuals gained enrollment in pension insurance programs, providing long-term social security.
Ecological indicators demonstrate remarkable progress since the fishing ban’s implementation. The Yangtze’s aquatic biodiversity has shown continuous improvement through enhanced protection and restoration initiatives. In 2025 alone, conservationists released over 970,000 Chinese sturgeons into the river, with monitoring confirming that more than 60% of these endangered fish have successfully migrated to the ocean through the Yangtze estuary.
The conservation strategy includes systematic habitat restoration targeting critical ecological zones. Authorities have strengthened management of protected aquatic germplasm resource areas while implementing scientifically-guided restocking programs. This holistic approach represents one of the world’s most extensive river conservation efforts.
The fishing prohibition began with a initial ban in 332 conservation areas throughout the Yangtze basin in January 2020. The program expanded significantly with a full十年禁渔 (ten-year fishing moratorium) covering the river’s main streams and major tributaries, which took effect on January 1, 2021. This long-term commitment reflects China’s dedication to balancing ecological restoration with sustainable social development along its most vital waterway.