Chinese fishermen embrace new life ashore
China began a 10-year fishing moratorium from the beginning of this year in 332 conservation areas in the Yangtze River basin, which will be expanded to all the natural waterways of the country's longest river and its major tributaries from no later than Jan. 1, 2021.
Raising crayfish
Wu Huashan, 42, never regretted stepping ashore. The former fisherman now farms over 26 hectares of paddy fields to raise crayfish. In just a few months this year, Wu has earned more than 300,000 yuan (about 42,400 U.S. dollars) from selling crayfish alone -- an income he could only dream of during his decades as a fisherman.
Having learned fishing at an early age with his parents, Wu was a skilled fisherman and was head of a local fishery association.
Wu Huashan wears an outfit to harvest crayfish in Xiangshan Township of Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 5, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
"The catch started getting smaller and smaller," said Wu. "In the past when I went fishing with my father, we would catch more than 500 kg of fish every day. The number has fallen to just dozens of kilograms in recent years."
Last year, he bade farewell to his boats and received more than 70,000 yuan in subsidies, 12,000 yuan of living expenses and social insurance paid by the government.
Wu Huashan displays photos of the fishing boats he once owned in Xiangshan Township, Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 5, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
"I was lost and had no idea what I should do next," recalled Wu. With the help of the local government, he finally chose to invest in crayfish, a delicacy popular with many Chinese foodies.
Now he has turned into a crayfish expert. "The key to raising crayfish is to keep the water clean. I've had a good harvest this year and plan to try growing rice in the paddy fields this year," said Wu.
Wu Huashan harvests crayfish in Xiangshan Township of Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 5, 2020.[Photo/Xinhua]
Tourism services provider
Zhu Yicai, a 67-year-old ex-fisherman in Yugan County, is the living embodiment of an old Chinese adage -- those living on a mountain live off the mountain, those living by water live off the water.
He used to make a living by selling aquatic products captured in the Poyang Lake. He is now taking advantage of the beautiful scenery around the lake.
Zhu Yicai conducts guestroom check at his farmhouse in the Poyang Lake scenic area in Yugan County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 16, 2020. Zhu Yicai gave up his fishing business in 2012 due to the worsening aquatic environment in the Poyang Lake. In 2018, Zhu was running a family farm when he noticed that lots of tourists came to the lake to watch migratory birds. Zhu then captured the business opportunity and opened a 1,800-square-meter farmhouse. [Photo/Xinhua]
Decades of environmental protection have made the Poyang Lake an important hub for migratory birds, hosting up to 700,000 wintering birds every year. Local government has been taking advantage of the tourism resources by organizing a range of activities such as a bird-watching festival to lure tourists.
It has also been encouraging fishermen to step ashore and take part in tourism-related industry by offering training on restaurant management and other skills to make them more competitive.
Zhu opened a fish farm in 2012 and saw many tourists come to watch birds. Believing that birdwatching would be a good business opportunity, Zhu built a 1,800-square-meter farmhouse, which can accommodate more than 200 people dining at the same time, in February 2018.
Zhu Yicai (3rd L) serves guests at his farmhouse in the Poyang Lake scenic area in Yugan County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 16, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
"We closed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 epidemic, but we've already made over 300,000 yuan since we reopened in March," Zhu said.
Zhu Yicai (Rear) and his son make a daily menu for guests at his farmhouse in the Poyang Lake scenic area in Yugan County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 16, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
"Many tourists come here to relax and unwind. We can host nearly 200 people at the weekend in high seasons," Zhu said.
Tourists visit Zhu Yicai's farmhouse in the Poyang Lake scenic area in Yugan County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 16, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
Tourism brought the family a gross income of 1 million yuan last year and Zhu intends to convert the second floor of his home into a B&B to host more tourists.
Zhu Yicai (L,front) poses for a photo with his family at his farmhouse in the Poyang Lake scenic area in Yugan County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 16, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
