The Danjiangkou Reservoir will ban fishing activities for five months starting on March 1. The reservoir in Xichuan county, Henan province, imposes the restriction annually to restore aquatic resources. This year’s ban will last one month longer than previous years, until July 31.
Located on the Hanjiang River, a tributary of the Yangtze River, and spanning both Henan and Hubei provinces, the Danjiangkou Reservoir is the water source of the middle route for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, a multi-decade infrastructure mega project designed to divert water from China’s humid south to dry north.
In order to protect aquatic life and water ecology in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area, Xichuan has been imposing the ban on fishing in the spring season for 16 years since 2003. This year, in addition to a longer closure, part of the waters will be closed to fishing all year round. Some areas will also restrict fishing for certain types of fish, making this year’s ban the strictest in Xichuan’s history.
During the closure, the fishery authorities will carry out inspections and water patrols. The authorities will also communicate directly with fishing communities on the necessities of the ban, while addressing the difficulties this brings to the fishermen.