Construction examined in deaths of rare fish

The construction of a bridge in Jingzhou, Hubei province, which allegedly caused the death of about 6,000 critically endangered Chinese sturgeon at a breeding facility, has been halted, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

An investigative team, assembled by the ministry's Yangtze River Fisheries Administration and the Hubei agricultural bureau, arrived in Jingzhou to investigate the deaths said to be caused by the construction of the Miyue Bridge in the city's Jinan ecocultural tourism zone, an official from the administration said.

Part of the construction was allegedly carried out in national nature reserves, which is illegal, he said. The result of the investigation was not available as of Thursday night.