Study: Yangtze Fishing Ban Reversed 70 Years of Decline

Fishing ban halts seven decades of biodiversity decline in the Yangtze River

Yangtze River fishing ban halts seven decades of biodiversity decline

The Yangtze River Basin, a global biodiversity hotspot, has endured severe ecological degradation over several decades due to intense human activity, leading to a marked decline in aquatic biodiversity. In order to halt this 70-year trend, the Chinese government instituted a comprehensive 10-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River in 2021.

China banned fishing in its biggest river, and species are starting to recover

Decades of overfishing and habitat degradation led to huge declines in freshwater biodiversity in China's longest river, but there are signs of recovery after a fishing ban was implemented in 2021.

Five Years Into a Fishing Ban, the Yangtze River Is Teeming With Life - Inside Climate News

A doubling of fish biomass along Asia’s longest river shows hope for large-scale conservation efforts and a lifeline for the endangered finless porpoise.

Yangtze finless porpoise population increases in China

The population of the Yangtze finless porpoise has risen to 1,426 in 2025, an increase of 177 compared with the 2022 survey, marking a steady improvement in the ecological health of the Yangtze River, a senior official with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Friday.