North China's Shanxi Province has officially ended its four-month annual fishing ban on the Yellow River, with the closed season concluding in August after sustainable efforts to restore aquatic biodiversity.
During this year's fishing ban, the province released about 1.97 million juvenile fish and other aquatic species into the Yellow River as part of its stock enhancement program, helping replenish aquatic resources.
The Yellow River in Yuncheng, Shanxi Province, north China, July 4, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
The Shanxi section is a key fishery in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and is home to native fish species such as the Yellow River carp and Yellow River catfish. After entering Shanxi, the river flows through Xinzhou, Luliang, Linfen and Yuncheng. Stretching 968.5 kilometers, the Shanxi section accounts for nearly one-fifth of the river's total length.
Shanxi introduced its seasonal fishing moratorium on the Yellow River in 2018. Monitoring data show that the number of fish species recorded in the province's section of the river has increased from 46 in 2021 to 60 in 2025.
According to an official with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Shanxi Province, the seasonal fishing ban has led to a significant recovery in aquatic biodiversity, continued improvements in the river's ecological environment, and stronger conservation of fishery resources.