139 boats resume fishing as autumn ban ends on China-Russia border river

(ECNS) -- A 20-day autumn fishing ban on the main channel of the Ussuri River, which forms part of the China-Russia border, ended at midnight Tuesday.

At about 5 a.m. Wednesday, 139 fishing boats headed to designated waters to resume fishing. It is the last time this year that fishing has opened on the Ussuri River.

As a shared fishing area managed by China and Russia, the river is subject to a phased fishing ban. The measures are an important part of the two countries' joint efforts to restore aquatic resources and protect biodiversity in the river basin.

The autumn fishing ban coincides with a critical period when chum salmon migrate upstream to spawn. During the ban, only recreational angling was allowed.

(By Gong Weiwei)