From fish predators to protectors

A patrol team comprising 79 licensed fishermen and fishery law enforcement officials is established in Tonglu county, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The annual fishing moratorium started in Tonglu county, East China's Zhejiang province on March 1.

The ban, which lasts up to four months, prohibits fishing in the county's Fuchun River and Fenshui River, two tributaries of the Qiantang River in Zhejiang.

All fishing boats owned by licensed fishermen in Tonglu are equipped with GPS systems so that authorities can monitor boat movements during the fishing ban.  

Despite the ban, fishermen in Tonglu have not been idle. Instead, some have joined local officials in preventing illegal fishing.

A patrol team comprising 79 licensed fishermen and fishery law enforcement officials was established in the county earlier this year.

This is the second year the government has set up such a team. No cases of illegal fishing were reported in the county during the fishing ban last year following the establishment of the team, according to Xu Han, a local official.

 "What we do is promoting sustainable fishing that will allow the next generation to enjoy fresh river fishes," said Zhu Yujun, a member of the team.