Ban replenishes China's fish stocks
( 2003-09-18 10:50)
Fishermen are harvesting the sea after a summer fishing ban ended at noon on
Tuesday.
The summer-long ban affected more than 118,000 boats on areas of the East
China Sea, the Yellow Sea, the Bohai Bay and the South China Sea.
Sources with the Ministry of Agriculture show that the country's
eight-year-old summer fishing ban has been a great success, helping curb a
deterioration in the country's fish stocks.
The ban has in turn created a resurgence in the number of fish species of
major economic value in China, as well as leading to a continuous increase in
the value of the country's fish output over the past eight years. This increased
output has also boosted the incomes of Chinese fishermen, according to the
ministry.
Summer is the best spawning period for fish, shrimp, crabs and many other
species, so it is the perfect time for protecting fish stocks. A special
allowance from the government enables fishermen to maintain their livelihoods
during the ban period.
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