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‘Fish dads’ breed rare species to replenish Yangtze River

About 70 million rare fish bred at the institute have been released into the Three Gorges Reservoir area in the past decade.

Deng Rui and Tan Yngzi

Deng Rui and Tan Yngzi

China Daily

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Recently, a group known as the "fish dads" — male technicians at Chongqing's Wanzhou Fisheries Research Institute — have been working to breed rare fish on the banks of the Yangtze River. In the past decade, some 70 million rare artificially bred fish have been released into the Three Gorges Reservoir area. [Photo by Ran Mengjun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

April 21, 2022

CHONGQING – The “fish dads” — a group of more than 40 male technicians at Chongqing’s Wanzhou Fisheries Research Institute — have earned their nickname by breeding rare fish beside the Yangtze River.

Stretching over 6,300 kilometers, the Yangtze has rich biodiversity, but overfishing and pollution have threatened aquatic life and depleted fish stocks. Last year, China imposed a 10-year fishing ban to help reverse the trend.

'Fish dads' breed rare species to replenish Yangtze River a8

Recently, a group known as the “fish dads” — male technicians at Chongqing’s Wanzhou Fisheries Research Institute — have been working to breed rare fish on the banks of the Yangtze River. In the past decade, some 70 million rare artificially bred fish have been released into the Three Gorges Reservoir area. [Photo by Ran Mengjun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

In the breeding workshop for rare fish at the institute’s Shuanghekou base, technicians carefully inspect Chinese suckers (Myxocyprinus asiaticus). Their main job is to help induce ovulation and then complete artificial insemination.

The institute has incubated nearly 10 million baby Chinese suckers this year — nearly 4 million more than last year — according to its director, Liu Benxiang.

'Fish dads' breed rare species to replenish Yangtze River a9

Recently, a group known as the “fish dads” — male technicians at Chongqing’s Wanzhou Fisheries Research Institute — have been working to breed rare fish on the banks of the Yangtze River. In the past decade, some 70 million rare artificially bred fish have been released into the Three Gorges Reservoir area. [Photo by Ran Mengjun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The institute began captive breeding of the species in the 1970s. After years of scientific research and practice, it has become a national original breeding base.

For now, the institute has reserved more than 3,000 Yangtze sturgeon parent fish. That species is under first-class State protection in China. It is also concerned with the protection of other species — for example, the Yanyuan carp, Onychostoma angustistomata and Percocypris pingi.

'Fish dads' breed rare species to replenish Yangtze River a10

Recently, a group known as the “fish dads” — male technicians at Chongqing’s Wanzhou Fisheries Research Institute — have been working to breed rare fish on the banks of the Yangtze River. In the past decade, some 70 million rare artificially bred fish have been released into the Three Gorges Reservoir area. [Photo by Ran Mengjun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The institute has an annual breeding capacity of around 50 million fish fry. About 70 million rare fish bred at the institute have been released into the Three Gorges Reservoir area in the past decade, which is of great significance to the biodiversity of the area, Liu said.

'Fish dads' breed rare species to replenish Yangtze River a11

Recently, a group known as the “fish dads” — male technicians at Chongqing’s Wanzhou Fisheries Research Institute — have been working to breed rare fish on the banks of the Yangtze River. In the past decade, some 70 million rare artificially bred fish have been released into the Three Gorges Reservoir area. [Photo by Ran Mengjun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

'Fish dads' breed rare species to replenish Yangtze River a12

Recently, a group known as the “fish dads” — male technicians at Chongqing’s Wanzhou Fisheries Research Institute — have been working to breed rare fish on the banks of the Yangtze River. In the past decade, some 70 million rare artificially bred fish have been released into the Three Gorges Reservoir area. [Photo by Ran Mengjun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

'Fish dads' breed rare species to replenish Yangtze River a13

Recently, a group known as the “fish dads” — male technicians at Chongqing’s Wanzhou Fisheries Research Institute — have been working to breed rare fish on the banks of the Yangtze River. In the past decade, some 70 million rare artificially bred fish have been released into the Three Gorges Reservoir area. [Photo by Ran Mengjun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

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