Brief Summary
The Yangtze River, China's vital waterway, faced a severe drought in 2011, leading to ecological devastation. The Chinese government responded with cloud seeding, water release from the Three Gorges Dam, and a massive fish restocking program, releasing 1.3 billion fish. Despite these efforts, the fish population continued to decline, prompting a comprehensive fishing ban in 2020 to allow the ecosystem to recover. The effectiveness of the fish release programs is questioned due to a lack of coordinated studies and the release of non-native species.
- Severe drought in 2011 devastated the Yangtze River ecosystem.
- Government responded with cloud seeding, dam water release, and massive fish restocking.
- Fish population continued to decline, leading to a fishing ban in 2020.
- Effectiveness of fish release programs questioned due to lack of coordination and studies.
The Drought and Initial Responses
In April 2011, China experienced its worst drought in half a century, impacting the middle and lower stretches of the Yangtze River. This drought devastated over 244 million acres of farmland, rendered over 1,300 lakes unusable, and affected millions of people and livestock. The Yangtze Delta, which supports 400 million people and 40% of China's economy, was severely impacted, resulting in $2.3 billion in direct losses. The Chinese government responded by launching 36 cloud seeding operations to induce rainfall, which had limited success due to insufficient cloud cover and unfavorable weather patterns.
Attempts to Alleviate the Drought
When cloud seeding proved inadequate, authorities turned to the Three Gorges Dam, increasing water discharge by 10-20%, releasing 1.3 trillion gallons of water daily. However, in early June, torrential rains caused severe flooding, affecting nearly 700,000 people and resulting in over a hundred deaths. The flood, the worst in decades, further damaged farmland, roads, and dams, exacerbating the existing ecological crisis.
Ecological Devastation and Impact on Species
The drought decimated the Yangtze River Basin's ecosystem, which is home to over a thousand species, including more than 370 fish species. Lakes dried up, and the remaining water became murky and foul-smelling, leading to the death of aquatic life. The spawning season was severely disrupted, leaving no place for fish to lay eggs. The drought also affected migratory birds that relied on the river's fry for food. The Yangtze finless porpoise, a rare freshwater whale species, was particularly vulnerable, with dropping water levels stranding them and impacting their food supply.
The Fish Release Program
In 2011, China initiated a program to release 1.3 billion fish into the Yangtze River to restore fishing resources. The Ministry of Agriculture, along with five provinces, released four main species: black and grass carp, chubs, and big head carp, along with other species like Chinese perch and puffer fish. The operation cost around $46,000 and included reintroducing underwater macrophytes and 21 million mollusks to help clean and balance the water.
Fish Conservation and Breeding Programs
To support the fish release program, conservation efforts focused on species like the Chinese sturgeon. Scientists breed wild sturgeons in captivity, raising them in controlled environments at centers like the Chinese Sturgeon Conservation Center. The sturgeons are raised in stages, from small pools to open ponds, to prepare them for natural conditions. Before release, they undergo an adjustment period in holding ponds with filtered river water to acclimate them to their new environment.
Preservation Efforts and Gene Banks
To safeguard endangered species like the Chinese sturgeon, conservation programs have created gene banks, similar to seed vaults, to preserve tissue samples, cells, DNA, and biological material. These materials are frozen in liquid nitrogen at -321°F for long-term storage and can be used to reproduce new generations if needed. The Three Gorges Corporation also launched a program called Noah's Ark to preserve the gene pool of rare Yangtze fish.
Decline in Fish Population and Warning Signs
Despite the fish release programs, the fish population in the Yangtze River continued to decline. Fishermen reported dwindling catches, and common commercial fish like the yellow cheek practically vanished. The Yangtze's catch dropped from 430,000 tons in 1954 to below 100,000 tons in 2011. By 2019, several species, including the Chinese sturgeon and Baiji dolphin, showed no signs of reproduction, and the paddlefish was declared extinct.
Ongoing Fish Release Programs and National Fish Release Day
Fish are regularly released into the Yangtze River, with over 70 million fish released in the Wansau area alone since 2011. These releases include both rare and commercial species. June 6th is celebrated as National Fish Release Day to raise awareness about protecting aquatic animals. Specialists implant tags in released fish to monitor their movements and adaptation, allowing for adjustments to future releases.
The Fishing Ban and Enforcement Efforts
In 2020, China implemented a 10-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River to allow fish populations to recover. The ban initially applied to nature reserves but was expanded to the river's main stem and major tributaries. Over 100,000 boats were seized, affecting more than 200,000 people. Enforcement efforts include daily patrols, night raids with night vision gear, and drones to combat illegal fishing.
Challenges and Inconsistencies in Fish Release Programs
The Yangtze River faces challenges from overfishing, pollution, and damming. Journalists have found inconsistencies in fish release programs, with a lack of clear guidelines on how to properly release fish, which species to release, and in what quantities. Some releases involve non-native species or the cheapest fry, without proper studies to determine the river's needs. The lack of coordinated accounting makes it difficult to assess the impact of stocking efforts on the Yangtze's ecosystem.
