China starts fishing ban in China-Russia boundary river

China has imposed a fishing ban on Chinese water areas in the Heilongjiang River or the Amur River, a boundary river between China and Russia.

The fishing ban, formally started on Oct. 1 and part of a 55-day annual ban period, aims to protect fish spawning and breeding.

Fishing along the China stretch of the Wusuli River, a tributary emptying into Heilongjiang, was also banned simultaneously.

A major birthplace of Salmon, Heilongjiang River witnesses the salmon migration in fall, during which flocks of salmon swim back from the Pacific Ocean to their natal river to spawn.

Border police officer Tu Lei with the Tongjiang City of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China said that the number of salmon has increased markedly thanks to improving water quality.

Fishery management officials have been on duty around-the-clock to inspect each vessel and prevent illegal fishing.

As the fishing season is off, local fishery authority will organize the release of salmon fry as ever to boost its reproduction. Last year, 2 million salmon fry were released into the Heilongjiang and Wusuli rivers.

Wang Min, a fisherman in Fuyuan county where the two rivers meet, advocated the fishing ban and fish fry release. "Better ecology and a healthy biologic chain benefit all," he said.

To ensure a constant improvement of the river's water quality, China and Russia have made efforts to jointly tackle water pollution and monitored the river ecology together since 2007. Endit