Time back to 1986, when Yang Junxing was doing his doctoral dissertation at Fuxian Lake in Yuxi, when the annual output of good white fish (commonly known as anti-wave fish) was 300 to 400 tons, and he could often eat some and enjoy the blessings. When he went again in the 1990s, the annual production of good whitefish fell to less than a tonne.
"He was heartbroken to see that." Wang Xiaoai, a student of Yang Junxing, said, "Teacher Yang thought that he was doing fish research, why is there so little good white fish in the first few years after doing his doctoral dissertation?" So, he thought that he must do something to protect this fish. ”
As a result, Yang Junxing, Ph.D., from the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, opened the way for him and his team to protect fish in Yunnan. With the emphasis on biodiversity conservation, government departments attach great importance to the protection, research and development of fish resources, and more and more scientific researchers are also involved in the investigation and protection of fish resources, adding brilliance to the conservation of biodiversity in Yunnan.
A total of 629 species of fish were recorded in Yunnan, ranking first in the country
Walking into the farmers' market in Kunming, to the place where fish are sold, the more common fish are grass carp, crucian carp, silver carp, bighead carp, silver fish, tilapia and so on.
In fact, yunnan fish are more than that. Spring City Evening News - Kaiping News reporter learned from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Yunnan Province that according to the existing survey results, Yunnan Province recorded a total of 629 species of fish, accounting for 39.93% of the number of freshwater fish species in the country, ranking first in the country. Among them, there are 594 indigenous species, 255 species endemic to Yunnan, and 152 species distributed in Yunnan alone in China. These fish are mainly distributed in the six major river systems in Yunnan, in order of the number of fish species: 202 species in the Pearl River system, 183 species in the Lancang River system, 151 species in the Jinsha River system, 120 species in the Red River system, 84 species in the Irrawaddy River system and 77 species in the Nu River (Salween River system).
Nebula Whitefish. Photo by Chen Xiaoyong, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Due to the barrier effect of land, the geographical distribution of fish is greatly limited by the water system, so the fish species between different water systems are very different, there are 80 species of fish in Yunnan at the same time distributed in two or more water systems, the remaining more than 500 species of fish are only distributed in a single water system, such as naked fish Dan genus, hagfish genus, bulbous loach genus and protosthesis loach genus are only distributed in a very narrow area.
In addition to the natural extinction due to evolutionary laws, indigenous fish species also face a series of impacts on them by human production activities, such as environmental pollution, overfishing in the past, reclamation of lakes, dam barriers caused by the construction of water conservancy facilities, habitat loss, and fragmentation of habitats.
Since the 1950s, due to the influence of many factors such as environmental pollution, lake reclamation, and cool fishing, the indigenous fish in Yunnan have decreased sharply in both species and numbers, and some species have even disappeared, such as Dianchi Lake golden rayfish and Dali split-bellied fish, which were once the main economic sources of the people around the river basin. Fishermen's incomes have plummeted, and the environment in waters such as lakes has also deteriorated.
At the same time, the invasion of alien species is an important threat factor for indigenous fish species in Yunnan, and unlike the damage to the environment by humans, the threat of invasive alien species to the ecosystem is longer and more persistent, and it is often difficult to control or remove them.
86 species of indigenous fish broke through the artificial breeding barrier
In 1997, Yang Junxing and his research group began to do research on the protection of good white fish in the crucian carp, and in 1999, the artificial breeding of the good white fish of the crucian carp was successful. Since then, they have carried out technology sharing, provided nursery and technical guidance for the surrounding farms, and made the good white fish from endangered to commercial breeding and achieved an industry. Wang Xiaoai said: "The government also has funds for breeding and stocking, and so far it has stocked 12 million good white fish into Fuxian Lake. The production of surf-resistant fish is also gradually recovering, and now it is about 13-15 tonnes a year. ”
Soft-finned new light lip fish "Black Belt No. 1"
The reporter learned from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Yunnan Province that in order to protect the fish resources of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Province -
Establish aquatic germplasm resources conservation areas and strengthen the conservation of indigenous fish habitats. Since 2008, the province has established 15 national and 6 provincial aquatic germplasm resources conservation areas, with a total area of 29804.8 hectares (including 7329.4 hectares in the core area and 22475.4 hectares in the experimental area), and the main protection objects are more than 50 species of rare indigenous fish in Yunnan, such as Dali split-bellied fish, Dianchi lake golden rayfish and giant catfish. The establishment of aquatic germplasm resources conservation areas provides a suitable living environment for indigenous fish, protects the living space of indigenous fish, and is conducive to the recovery of indigenous fish in the wild.
Carry out research on artificial domestication and breeding technology to improve the level of artificial protection. In recent years, Yunnan comprehensive fishery scientific research, aquatic technology, fishing-related enterprises and large hydropower station fish breeding and stocking stations and other forces have successively carried out research on ex situ protection and domestication and breeding of indigenous fish, screened and developed varieties of greater value, and systematically carried out basic biology, large-scale breeding technology, disease prevention and control technology research and breeding experiments and promotion, which has greatly promoted the protection and development and utilization of indigenous fish in the province. As of 2019, the province has conquered 86 kinds of indigenous fish artificial domestication and breeding techniques. Among them, 17 species belong to the national second-level key protected animals, and 27 species belong to rare and endangered fish included in various red books. The continuous breakthrough in the research of artificial domestication and breeding technology has improved the ability and level of indigenous fish conservation, and laid a solid technical foundation for the protection and industrial development of indigenous fish resources in Yunnan. Some indigenous fish with development value, such as the good white fish of the crucian carp, the bighead carp, the silk-tailed carp and the Dianchi high-backed crucian carp, have not only achieved effective species protection and population restoration, but also become important species for the development of characteristic fisheries.
7.5 million rare and endangered indigenous fish returned to the wild
During the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, our province thoroughly implemented the "Action Plan for the Conservation of China's Aquatic Biological Resources", and stocked 250 million freshwater economic fish and rare and endangered aquatic animals, of which economic fish include bluefish, grass carp, silver carp, bighead carp, Dianchi high-backed crucian carp, crucian carp, carp, yellow jawfish, etc.; 7.5 million rare and endangered indigenous fish, the main species are good white fish, round mouth copper fish, big-eyed round snout, back perch, golden sand perch, high-body four-bearded sea bass, white turtle, southern white turtle, Sichuan white turtle, Chinese knot fish There are more than 30 species of Dianchi golden-lined catfish, cuttlefish, mothus carp, Yunnan light-lipped fish, dark-lipped carp, short-whiskered split-bellied fish, and light-lipped split-bellied fish.
Indigenous fish stocking in the Lixian River Basin
Breeding and stocking provides the basic conditions for the protection and restoration of indigenous fish resources in Yunnan, such as the good white fish of the squid in Fuxian Lake, which has recovered from almost extinction to the formation of fish floods. At the same time, breeding and stocking also plays a positive role in purifying water with fishing, retaining water with fishing, and treating eutrophicationic water bodies.
Strictly carry out environmental impact assessments of fishing-related projects to reduce the adverse impact of projects. During the "Thirteenth Five-Year Plan" period, 18 fishery-related projects in aquatic germplasm resources protection areas were strictly examined and reported, environmental impact assessments were conscientiously carried out, and a series of measures such as the construction of a dam collection fish system, the construction of indigenous fish conservation and breeding centers, aquatic ecology and resource monitoring, research on artificial domestication and breeding technology of indigenous fish, artificial release of indigenous fish, and publicity of the scientific legal system were carried out to minimize and reduce the adverse impact of project construction, and effectively protected aquatic biological resources and aquatic ecological environment.
Strengthen the supervision of fishery administration law enforcement and severely crack down on illegal acts. Strictly implement the decision-making and deployment of the "ten-year fishing ban" on the Yangtze River, as of the end of December 2020, 100% of the retired fishing vessels in the province have completed dismantling and destruction, 100% of retired fishermen who are willing to work have achieved employment, 100% of retired fishermen who meet the conditions for basic pension insurance are included in the insurance, and the task goal of "four cleanses and four noes" (clear boats, clear nets, clear rivers, clear lakes, no fishing vessels, no fishing nets, no fishing fishermen, no fishing production) will be achieved as scheduled. From 2018 to 2020, it organized a series of law enforcement actions of China's fishery administration Liangjian, cleaned up and rectified 893 fishing-related "three noes" vessels, the number of illegal nets and tools was nearly 260,000, 3,640 cases of violations of laws and regulations were investigated and handled, and 3,692 people involved in the case were seized, effectively cracking down on illegal fishing and destruction of indigenous fish resources.
The development potential of indigenous fish in Yunnan is huge
Among the 86 species of indigenous fish that have been domesticated and bred in Yunnan Province, Yang Junxing and his team at the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have conquered 48 species.
Following the good white fish of the crucian carp, Yang Junxing's research group carried out a study of the Dianchi golden ray, one of the four famous fish in Yunnan. Since 2000, Yang Junxing's research group has continued to carry out extensive research on the number, distribution, habitat, feeding ecology and reproductive ecology of Dianchi golden herring in the Dianchi Lake Basin, relying on international organizations and relevant projects and funds from Yunnan Province, and introduced 200 broodstock from the wild to carry out research on germplasm resources conservation, population restoration, artificial breeding and sustainable utilization. In 2007, he and his team broke through the artificial breeding of the Dianchi golden herring for the first time. At that time, this was the third national protected fish that was successfully bred in China after the Chinese sturgeon and rouge fish.
Fuxian golden thread catfish. Photo by Chen Xiaoyong, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
In order to allow the Dianchi golden thread catfish to return to the public's table, the research group carried out scientific research around the shortcomings of the slow growth rate and many intermuscular spines of the Dianchi golden thread catfish, and cultivated the Dianchi golden thread catfish "Catfish You No. 1" - which is the first new aquatic species approved by the state in Yunnan and even the southwest region, and is also the first new species created based on national protected fish in China.
Under the same breeding conditions, compared with the unselected Dianchi golden ray, the 24-month-old Dianchi golden ray "Catfish You No. 1" increased by an average length of 20.5%, the average weight increased by 37.0%, and the intermuscular spine weakened by 78.5%. Today, this fish has been commercially farmed in Wenshan, Qujing and other places, and has swam on the tables of citizens.
Western gold-threaded catfish. Photo by Chen Xiaoyong, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Indigenous fish still face many challenges when they return to the table. According to the relevant personnel of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Yunnan Province, due to the higher requirements for the living environment and the strong geographical distribution of indigenous fish, only a few units are carrying out the breeding of indigenous fish. The development and utilization cycle of indigenous fish is long, the risk is large, the capital investment and technical requirements are high, and because the development of the indigenous fish industry is limited by the weakness of the technical system such as seed production, nutritious feed, disease prevention and control, the industrial chain is not perfect, and the government-production-learning-research-promotion-enterprise synergy has not yet formed, resulting in the failure to form the commercial development of indigenous fish in Yunnan and large-scale aquaculture. The integration of indigenous fish breeding, breeding and promotion has not yet been truly established, and the protection and utilization of germplasm resources are unbalanced.
However, Yunnan is a hot spot for freshwater fish germplasm resources in China, and the reserve and development potential of indigenous fish germplasm resources is huge, which also prepares a wealth of strategic germplasm resources for the future development of Freshwater Fishery in China.
Dianchi lake golden thread catfish
Yang Junxing said: "Yunnan's species resources are so rich, it can be said that even 1% of the species are really transformed into industries to develop and meet social needs." You can imagine how much room there is for development, how much room for effort, this is what we need to do. ”
Indigenous fish conservation faces many challenges
In the past 20 years, with the continuous enhancement of environmental awareness, policies related to the protection of indigenous fish have been introduced, especially with the promulgation of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Aquatic Wild Animals, the Action Outline for the Conservation of Aquatic Biological Resources of China, the Fishery Regulations of Yunnan Province, and the Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Strengthening the Conservation of Aquatic Organisms in the Yangtze River and the Implementation Opinions of the General Office of the People's Government of Yunnan Province on Strengthening the Protection of Aquatic Organisms in the Yangtze River. With the implementation of the Yangtze River Protection Law of the People's Republic of China, the protection of indigenous fish in our province has received fundamental attention.
Dark lip fish. Photo by Chen Xiaoyong, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
At present, our province has established 21 aquatic germplasm resources protection areas to strengthen the protection of indigenous fish habitats; the scientific research and technology promotion departments of the fishery system in the province have increased the research on artificial domestication and breeding technology of indigenous fish to improve the level of artificial protection; for many years, we have adhered to the scientific and orderly development of breeding and stocking and conserving aquatic biological resources; strengthened the supervision of fishery administration and law enforcement, severely cracked down on illegal acts, strengthened the popularization of science popularization, and created a good pattern for all sectors of society to participate in the cause of indigenous fish protection.
However, the protection of indigenous fish species in Yunnan Province has a long way to go. Among the 629 species of fish in Yunnan, there are more than 100 rare and endangered fish species. A total of 43 species are listed in the Red Book Fish of Endangered Animals in China, 73 species are listed in the first volume of the Red List of Species in China, a total of 50 species are listed in various endangered grades on the IUCN Red List, and a total of 3 species are listed in Appendix II of CITES. In February 2021, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued the adjusted "List of Wild Animals under National Key Protection", and the indigenous fish included in the National Key Protection List in Yunnan were raised from the original 6 species (1988) to 32 species (classes), accounting for 40% of the 80 species (classes) of freshwater fish under national key protection.
Short-whiskered split-bellied fish.
There are also deficiencies in the protection of indigenous fish species:
First, the indigenous fish resources are not clear. The province has not carried out systematic and comprehensive investigation of the wild germplasm resources of indigenous fish, and the background status of the actual remaining species, resources and biological characteristics of indigenous fish resources has not been fully and accurately grasped. The data on the home base of indigenous fish are incomplete, inaccurate, and outdated, which seriously affects the scientific assessment and decision-making judgment of the protection and development of indigenous fish resources in our province.
Second, the support for the protection of indigenous fish is weak. At present, the only professional scientific research and technical institutions for the study of indigenous fish in our province are the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Yunnan Fishery Science Research Institute, and the number of scientific researchers in relevant universities and enterprises is small, scattered, and there is no joint force, and the linkage exchange platform and collaborative cooperation mechanism for the protection and development of indigenous fish and the integration pattern of production, learning, research and promotion have not yet been formed.
Third, the construction of indigenous fish germplasm resource conservation areas is lagging behind. The demarcation of aquatic germplasm resources protection areas is not precise, the management force is weak, the phenomenon of nominal and weak pipes is prominent, and the function is not fully utilized. The number of aquatic germplasm resource farms is insufficient, the facilities are outdated, the number of seeds preserved is small, and the ability to preserve seeds is poor, which seriously restricts the protection function.
Fourth, there is a lack of financial support for the protection of indigenous fish. There is no special funding arrangement for the protection of indigenous fish in the financial budgets at all levels, and some necessary basic research is difficult to carry out. The long cycle of conservation and development of indigenous fish, the risk is large, and the expected return is low, making it difficult to attract social capital and enterprises to participate in conservation and development.
Spring City Evening News- Open Screen News Reporter Yang Zhigao Intern Mao Lidan Wen Courtesy of photo
Editor-in-charge Luo Qiuxu
Proofreading Cat Enbo Zhu Yongmei
Editor Wang Yun