Protection and development after the ten-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River

The Yangtze River is the longest river in China, stretching 6300 km and playing an irreplaceable role in the country's ecosystem. It is also home to one of the world's richest aquatic biodiversity, with 443 freshwater fish species and 156 of them being endemic to the river. As a major source of freshwater fishery production in China, the capture fishery yield accounts for 60% of the total Chinese inland fisheries output. However, human activities such as hydro project construction, enclosing-lake cultivation, overfishing, water pollution, shipping development, and exotic fish species invasion have caused a declined aquatic ecosystem service of the Yangtze River ecosystem. This decline is reflected in the decrease in fish species, increase in endangered species, miniaturization of fish individuals, and increase of exotic species. To resolve this issue, the Chinese government has implemented a ten-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River, starting on January 1, 2021, with the aim of restoring the aquatic environment and conserving the aquatic biodiversity. To ensure the sustainable development of fishery resources in the Yangtze River, it is suggested to coordinate the relationship between ecological protection and fishery development, innovate the management system and mechanism, and adjust service objectives according to changes in the Yangtze River aquatic ecosystem. These studies aim to provide a scientific policy suggestion for the protection of the Yangtze River aquatic ecosystem and the sustainable development of its fishery resources.