Fishermen cast for new jobs

The 10-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River is forcing thousands of people dependent on the river to change their lives

HEFEI-Zhu Changhong, who once fished the Yangtze River for a living, skillfully scooped up a plastic bottle with a net while patrolling the water in his boat on a cold January afternoon.

"There is not much trash to collect in winter, as the water is low," the 54-year-old said.

He said farewell to his old job early last year when authorities outlawed fishing along a 58-kilometer stretch of the Yangtze to protect finless porpoises.

A 10-year fishing ban on 332 key areas of the river was fully implemented this year to protect biodiversity in the country's longest river. Among the areas affected is the river section where Zhu lives, Datong township in Tongling, Anhui province.

Yu Kangzhen, vice-minister of agriculture and rural affairs, said the fishing ban is regarded as a key move to stop the depletion of biological resources and degradation of biodiversity in the Yangtze River, which has been damaged by overfishing and pollution.

It's estimated the ban will affect more than 110,000 fishing boats and 280,000 fishermen in 10 provincial-level regions along the river. The ministry has promised to provide social security services, financial support and vocational training for fishermen who have to find a new way of earning a living.

Bigger picture

Unlike other fishermen who have found jobs in factories or become security guards, Zhu and his wife continue to earning a living from the river.

With the help of the local government, they joined a team to clean up floating trash and report sightings of finless porpoises, a job that earns them 5,000 yuan ($726) a month.