Yangtze River Revival Shows Impact of Decade‑Long Fishing Ban

Since the ten‑year ban on commercial fishing in the Yangtze River was enforced, water‑quality standards in the main channel have consistently ranked at Category II, the second‑best level, for five consecutive years. The improved conditions have also encouraged the return of the critically endangered Yangtze finless dolphin to several stretches of the river. Today, more than 90 percent of China’s terrestrial ecosystems and 74 percent of its key wildlife species enjoy effective protection, reinforcing the nation’s ecological safety net.