As of April 1st, a spring fishing ban will take effect in the valley areas of the Yangtze River, the longest river in China, in an effort to prevent over-fishing and water pollution.

Sources from Yangzhou fishing authority said the ban will last until June 30, and all trawlers and fishing vessels will be forbidden in the entire valley areas during the three months.

The ban will coincide with the spring season when fish spawn. China started banning spring fishing on the Yangtze River since 2003, in an effort to help protect depleting fish resources.

Local fishing authorities said in past years water pollution, over-fishing and irrigation works on the Yangtze River had significantly depleted marine resources, causing a decline in the output of aquatic products.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2005)