Fishing to be banned on Yangtze River and tributaries by 2020

The State Council, China's Cabinet, has issued a guideline to strengthen the protection of aquatic organisms in the Yangtze River that includes a year-round ban on all fishing in the river by 2020.

Yu Kangzhen, vice-minister of agriculture and rural affairs, said on Wednesday the guideline is aimed at increasing the diversity of aquatic organism species, aiding the recovery of fish resources, and improving the living environment of aquatic organisms in the Yangtze.

According to the guideline, fishing, apart from fish farming, will be banned in the Yangtze and tributaries and lakes connected to it by 2020.