Zhenjiang makes progress in implementing Yangtze River fishing ban policy

Amid the implementation of a 10-year fishing ban on key areas of the Yangtze River, Zhenjiang City in Jiangsu Province has completed creating records of all its fishing boats phased out and fishermen out of the fishing practices now.

Accordfing to Li Chuande, deputy director of Zhenjiang Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the city has followed a detailed plan with clear goals and specific division of responsibility to enforce the fishing ban at the end of 2019.

The city has now achieved three “100 percent,” which means the full retraction of fishing permit, full expropriation of fishing boats and nets, and full job transfer of all eligible fishermen.

In the expropriation of fishing boats and nets according to laws and regulations, a third-party appraisal company helped properly decide the scope and the compensation standards, which then form the basis of contract with fishermen to quit fishing.

Zhenjiang, on the banks of the Yangtze River, has also made efforts to ensure all eligible fishermen to find new jobs and have their social security funds paid in full before the end of the year.

In the process, local authorties fully explained to fishermen the national policy and programmes for their resettlement, organized job skills training and entrepreneurship guidance, and ensured employment assistance. Some of the eligible fishermen were recruited to become fishery workers and help protect the fish resources.