A fishing ban on the Yangtze River will be extended this year from three months to four months to protect fish resources, authorities said.
The ban will last from March 1 to June 30, covering the spawning season for most aquatic life in the river. It will involve the whole river, key tributaries and lakes, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The ban also applies to the Huaihe River, which runs almost parallel between the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.
If fry breeding farms need to take fry or scientific institutes need fish for research, they can apply for permits.
The first ban on the lower reaches of the river was in 2002. In 2003, it was approved by the State Council and extended to the whole river basin.
The Yangtze River is regarded as the "cradle of China's freshwater fishery and a valuable bank of fish genes." However, excessive fishing has put some species on the brink of extinction.
