China, Russia release 480,000 endangered fish fry into border river

China and Russia have jointly released 480,000 endangered fish fry into the Heilong River, a border river between the two countries, as part of their annual effort to restore fish stocks and strengthen cross-border conservation of aquatic resources.

Officials from fisheries authorities, researchers from both countries, local representatives and fishermen gathered in Tongjiang, Heilongjiang province on Tuesday, to release Heilong River sturgeon and kaluga fry into the river, marking the official launch of the 2026 China-Russia joint fish stock enhancement program in the border waters.

Kaluga, a first-class nationally protected aquatic wild animal, and Heilong River sturgeon, a second-class nationally protected aquatic wild animal, are native to the Heilong River system.

"The release activity strictly adheres to national and Heilongjiang provincial technical standards for aquatic biological stock enhancement and release, with standardized control throughout the process," said Chen Huaifa, director of the Heilongjiang Aquatic Animal Resource Conservation Center. "Heilong River sturgeon and kaluga are key species for protection in the China-Russia border river."

All released fry undergo genetic identification, health quarantine and size screening, and are managed through a closed-loop process covering transportation, temporary rearing, release, marking and monitoring to improve their adaptability to the wild, Chen said.

"We began field training a week before the release, replacing pellet feed with natural bait to mimic the river's feeding environment," he said. "We also increased water flow speed to simulate the river's current, helping them adapt more quickly to the wild and improve survival rates."

Among the 480,000 fry released, 100,000 Heilong River sturgeon came from the Tongjiang aquatic technology promotion station.

"After the Heilong River sturgeon breeding peak began in mid-May, we selected 100,000 high-quality fry for cultivation. After more than two months, they have reached about five centimeters in size, meeting release standards," said Qi Yongfeng, director of the station.

China and Russia have jointly conducted fish stock enhancement activities in the Heilong River system since 2008. Over the past 18 joint releases, the two sides have released more than 20 million Heilong River sturgeon and kaluga fry, helping restore fishery resources in the border river.

"Heilongjiang shares a 2,723-kilometer border waterline with Russia, the longest among China's provincial-level regions," said Han Peng, director of the Fisheries Administration Bureau of the Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

"Since a Sino-Russian fisheries agreement signed in 1994, both sides have strictly implemented the provisions, scientifically delineating perennial fishing ban areas and setting fishing ban periods."

Han said the two countries also carry out joint law enforcement inspections every spring and autumn along the Heilong and Wusuli rivers.

Long-term monitoring has shown encouraging results. In 2018, migratory Heilong River sturgeon and kaluga were primarily between 1 and 3 years old. By 2024 and 2025, the observed age range had expanded to between 1 and 5 years, with the oldest individual reaching 8 years.

"Through tagging and tracking observations, released fry can feed, grow, and adapt normally to the wild, with the population's age structure continuously optimizing, indicating a clear recovery trend of rare fish resources in the border river," Han said.

Local fishermen said they have witnessed the river's recovery firsthand.

"I've been fishing for four decades," said 58-year-old Li Changyou. "In the past, the river seemed wide, but there were fewer fish, and they were getting smaller. Now, besides chum salmon, carp and crucian, there are more and bigger fish."

"Locals' perceptions have also changed," he said. "Everyone knows that Heilong River sturgeon and kaluga are protected animals. If they are accidentally caught, we will release immediately without needing a reminder from fisheries administration."

Tongjiang, located at the confluence of the Heilong River and Songhua rivers, serves as an important migration corridor for Heilong River sturgeon, kaluga and chum salmon.

"Tongjiang is a necessary passage for Heilong River sturgeon, kaluga and chum salmon to migrate across borders," said Zhang Jiukai, deputy mayor of Tongjiang. "There is a national-level aquatic germplasm resource protection area, with a standardized cold-water fish breeding base capable of independently breeding purebred Heilong River sturgeon and kaluga fry, providing stable fry supply for the annual China-Russia joint release."

Russian officials and fisheries experts attending the event praised the progress made in bilateral cooperation on conserving fishery resources in the border river.

Denis Krylov, head of the Russian delegation, said Heilong River sturgeon and kaluga are also key protected species in Russia.

"We conduct various types of fish fry release activities every year, adhering to the principle of sustainable use and complementing natural resources," he said. "We firmly believe that as long as we work hand in hand and in unison to protect the aquatic biological resources of the river, we can maintain its population stability and ensure that the people of both countries can enjoy high-quality and abundant fish resources for a long time."