Enhancement and conservation of inland fisheries resources in China

Abstract

The inland aquatic ecosystem in China have been largely influenced by large-scale economic activities and over-exploitation of aquatic resources. Fisheries resource enhancement and conservation activities have been carried out throughout China. These activities include establishing artificial fish habitat and hatchery, releasing juvenile fish to rivers and lakes, forbidding illegal fishing, and setting up natural reserves. The purpose of these activities is to restore the quantity of inland fisheries resources, guarantee sustainable development of fisheries, maintain biological diversity and keep an ecological balance. These activities, conducted with a variety of methods, numerous species, extensive water areas and large scale programs have played an active role in fisheries resource enhancement and conservation. As a consequence the inland water environment has been improved; the biological diversity and fish catch increased, and the social, ecological and economic benefits have been significantly improved. However, problems such as inappropriate technology and nonstandard operations continue to affect fisheries resource enhancement, conservation and ecological stability. This paper reviews the history and practice of inland fisheries resource enhancement and conservation in China, analyzes the existing problems and deficiencies in the activities, and finally make some recommendations on technology and procedures to sustain inland fisheries resources.

Fishing down or fishing up in Chinese freshwater lakes

“…The inland aquatic ecosystem in China has been largely influenced by large‐scale economic activities (Chen et al . ). Hydrological alterations are the largest external threat to fish biodiversity in these freshwater lakes (Fu et al .…”

“…Sethi et al (2010) reported that MTL could be sensitive not only to fishery-induced changes at the ecosystem level but also to economic and technological factors. The inland aquatic ecosystem in China has been largely influenced by large-scale economic activities (Chen et al 2012). Hydrological alterations are the largest external threat to fish biodiversity in these freshwater lakes (Fu et al 2003;Ru & Liu 2013).…”

“…This vicious cycle will result in decreases in the number of fishes after a temporary increase and will lead to an eventual collapse in the aquatic ecosystem. Activities such as establishing artificial fish habitat and releasing hatchery reared juvenile fishes into rivers and lakes, forbidding illegal fishing and setting up natural reserves have been implemented to protect inland fisheries resources in China (Chen et al 2012), but the effective implementation of these measures needs improvement. One such measure is closing the lakes to fishing during the breeding season (Lake Poyang, from 20 March to 20 June; Lake Dongting, from 20 March to 30 June; Lake Taihu, from 1 February to 31 August; Lake Hongze, from 1 February to 1 June; and Lake Chaohu, from 1 February to 31 July).…”

“…However, these short periods may only protect fish with short lifespans: the long-lived species are not given enough time to recover. Although fishery management activities, such as establishing fishing size limits, fishing gear regulations, closed areas and seasons, and harvest limits, have been proposed in some basins (Chen et al 2012), fishery management bureaus need to establish total harvest limits and improve the management system.…”

Multiplex microsatellite PCR panels and their application in genetic analyses of bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix)

“…Bighead carp ( Hypophthalmichthys nobilis ) and silver carp ( H. molitrix ) are the major exploited food fish species and are native to water systems in China. However, reduced natural resources of these fishes has been a severe problem because of habitat fragmentation or shrinkage resulting from dam construction, water pollution, and the long‐term overfishing in major waters of China (Chen, Li, & Wang, 2012; Hu, Hua, Zhou, Wu, & Wu, 2015). In recent years, the genetic diversity of populations of Yangtze River has been studied intensively (Pang, Yu, & Tong, 2015; Yu, Pang, Yu, Tong, & Shen, 2016; Zhang et al, 2013), which has provided large amounts of molecular evidence to aid our understanding of certain populations (or species).…”