June 6 marked the 7th National "Fish Releasing Day". The launching ceremony of the "Fish Releasing Day" Hunan Event was held on Orange Isle in Changsha. Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee Wu Lan, Vice Governor Sui Zhongcheng, major officials of relevant provincial departments, and people from all walks of life released fish fry into the Xiangjiang River.

The event was jointly sponsored by the Hunan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Changsha Municipal People’s Government. The fish fry were quarantined by the aquatic organism inspection and quarantine department and notarized by the notary agency before release. About 80.32 million fish fry were released into the Xiangjiang River. A total of 135 million fish fry were released in 35 counties or districts across the province that day.

In order to "protect the Yangtze River", Hunan has organized and carried out fish fry releasing activities across the province for more than 20 consecutive years. This year, Hunan will focus on aquatic organism releasing events at the Dongting Lake; Xiangjiang, Zijiang, Yuanjiang, and Lishui rivers and their tributaries; the Pearl River Hunan section; large reservoirs of more than 50 square kilometers; and aquatic genetic resources nature reserve. This year a total of 626 million fish fry are expected to be released.   

Hunan shoulders the most important task of banning fishing along the Yangtze River. The province has implemented the major decisions and plans made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. It follows the work requirements of relevant national ministries and commissions. The CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and the Hunan Provincial People’s Government strengthen their readiness to shoulder responsibility, focus on scheduling, and achieve effective results in relocating fishermen, clearing up fishing vessels, and cracking down illegal fishing. A total of 27,763 fishing boats were dismantled, 19,154 fishing certificates revoked, 957.7 tons of fishing gear destroyed, and 71,981 unlicensed fishing boats punished. Hunan has launched a ten-year fishing ban from January 1, covering the Yangtze River Hunan section; Dongting Lake; and Xiangjiang, Zijiang, Yuanjiang, and Lishui rivers.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn