Yangtze River's fish population rebounds

A river once among the most fish-rich in the world, the Yangtze has shown one of the most encouraging results in recent river ecology since a total fishing ban was implemented in 2021. Fish biomass has more than doubled, and 344 native species have been recorded between 2021 and 2024, 36 more than before the ban.

Recovery benefits large species

The recovery has particularly benefited large fish species, which now have time to reach their adult size. However, the biomass of small species has decreased by 18%, indicating a rebalancing of the food chain rather than a generalized increase in fish numbers.

Yangtze finless porpoise population grows

The Yangtze finless porpoise, the only freshwater mammal in the river, has seen its population increase from 1,012 individuals in 2017 to 1,249 in 2022. This progress suggests a more favorable ecosystem for aquatic life.

Historical overfishing and environmental damage

The Yangtze River, which stretches 6,300 kilometers across China, was once one of the world's largest fish markets. Annual catches peaked near 400,000 tons but collapsed to below 60,000 tons by 2015, reflecting the scale of the decline caused by overfishing, industrial pollution, and dam construction.

Extinction of iconic species

The decline led to the extinction of several species, including the Chinese paddlefish, Psephurus gladius, which could grow several meters in length. This loss symbolizes the impact of human pressure on an ecosystem.

China's radical fishing ban

In 2021, China implemented a ten-year moratorium on commercial fishing in the Yangtze River, removing 111,000 boats and affecting nearly 231,000 fishermen. This decision aimed to let the river recover by stopping the fishing that had contributed to its decline.

Scientific study confirms recovery

A study published in the journal Science found that the fishing ban has stopped a 70-year decline in the river's biodiversity. Researchers monitored 57 sites between 2018 and 2023, finding that total fish biomass has more than doubled and species richness has increased by about 13%.

Rebalancing the ecosystem

While the total abundance of fish has not changed, large species have seen significant population growth. The Amur silver carp, for example, is increasing in numbers, while the biomass of small species has decreased by 18%, indicating a shift in the ecosystem's balance.

Endangered species show signs of recovery

Several endangered species, including the Yangtze sturgeon and the Chinese gudgeon, show signs of initial recovery. The gradual return of these species suggests that some lost balances can be partially restored.

Fish growth and ecosystem health

The anchovy Coilia nasus in the corridor linking the Yangtze to Lake Poyang shows concrete signs of recovery. The proportion of four-year-old individuals has increased significantly, and the average length of individuals has grown, indicating the river's gradual return to health.

Cautious optimism for the future

While the Yangtze has not regained the abundance it had a century ago, scientists remain cautiously optimistic. Each fish that grows and each species that reappears is a sign that an ecosystem as vast as the Yangtze can still reverse its trajectory if given the time.