The government of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province told reporters on January 7 that the province has issued a permanent ban on the release of non-native fish species in Sanjiangyuan source waters through an official Notice. Those who violate the ban will be transferred to judicial authorities to be held criminally responsible.

The notice states that from January 1, 2019, all non-native fish species are permanently banned from being released in public waters in the prefecture such as the Yangtze River, Yellow River, and Lancang River.

The notice states that Yushu will strictly control fish species and jointly enforce the law through fishery administration, water administration, environmental protection, and market supervision departments. By implementing a "river chief system" and "lake chief system", they will strengthen aquaculture management, learn about market prices on sales of imported fish, and prevent the destruction of the ecological environment of indigenous fish.

Yushu, located in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is the birthplace of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers. The landform here includes mountains, lakes, shrubs, grasslands, and forest areas, and it is the most concentrated biodiverse area on the plateau. Data from the Qinghai Ecological Civilization Construction Blue Book shows that ecological resources in the Sanjiangyuan area worth 14 trillion yuan (2.06 trillion US dollars).

Editor: Tommy Tan.