Guangdong will charge fees for catching lobsters and other wild aquatic animals under the province's key protection. The money collected will be used to encourage artificial breeding and wild aquatic animal study.

This was stated in a circular issued jointly by the province's price, financial and marine and fishery bureaus.

According to the circular, those who catch, sell and process the wild aquatic animals that are under the province's key protection and yet are permitted for sale will be charged at a respective rate of 3.5 percent and 1.5 percent of the sales income.

Those who use such wild animals for exhibition will also be charged at a rate of 1.5 percent of the income.

(www.cenews.com.cn January 27, 2003)