Yangtze witnesses a green renaissance

Fishing ban

Shi Hongwei, a former fisherman in Nantong, Jiangsu province, patrols more than 100 km along the banks of the Yangtze on his electric scooter every day.

The 50-year-old has always lived on Kaisha Island in the city's Tongzhou district. His ancestors were fishermen and Shi never imagined that one day he would monitor the river to help enforce a fishing ban.

"I cannot recall when I started to fish in the river," said Shi, who worked in the industry for 31 years. "I watched my parents catch fish on their boat every day and learned how to do this when I was very young."

He cannot remember how many fish he used to catch, but said the many species taken from the river helped him support his family, raise his children and have a decent standard of living.

"I could catch more than 50 kilograms of long-tailed anchovy in a single net," he said proudly. At one time, this species sold for more than 10,000 yuan a kg.

However, things began to change about 20 years ago, when Shi was catching considerably fewer fish in the Yangtze.

"Nine out of 10 fishing nets contained nothing but disappointment when they were pulled out of the river. I realized that something must be done and that the Yangtze needed time to recover," he said.

Last year, the authorities issued a regulation to protect the river, barring all fishing along the waterway for 10 years.

Shi, who received compensation of more than 190,000 yuan for his fishing boat and equipment, applied to patrol the Yangtze.

All 400 fishermen in the city have moved ashore and their 170 boats have been dismantled.

To help them adapt to new lives, the local government has offered to train them as nurses for the elderly and as bakers and chefs. Nearly all the fishermen were covered by the local social security system.

Shi said many of them have gone to big cities to work, and that he seldom catches people fishing illegally in the river.

"I'm proud to patrol and protect the Yangtze and hope that my children can also protect, and not harm, the river. I hope that one day I can see as many fish in the Yangtze as I did years ago," he added.

Liu Kun and Wang Jian contributed to this story.