In the heart of southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, Professor Liu Haiping of Southwest University’s School of Life Science is spearheading a remarkable effort to preserve the biodiversity of the Yangtze River. With over two decades of dedicated work in the upper reaches of Asia’s longest river, including 15 years in the remote regions of the Xizang Autonomous Region, Professor Liu is passionately committed to saving the Yangtze’s endangered fish species.
“There are about 180 kinds of fish in Chongqing,” Professor Liu explains. “Some of them are unique to the Yangtze River, and a small number are endangered. For these endangered fish, we have to adopt special technical means to preserve them.”
To combat the risk of extinction, Professor Liu and his team are utilizing germplasm conservation techniques. By selecting specimens with strong disease resistance and desirable genetic traits, they aim to breed stronger varieties of these rare species. “Germplasm conservation is actually not far from our daily life,” he says. “Take the goldfish, for example. That is a form of germplasm conservation, as we continue to select the ones with better colors and shapes for breeding.”
The team is developing a germplasm resources bank for upper-reach species, with ambitious plans to increase breeding efforts and release one million rare and unique fish back into the Yangtze River. Their goal is not just to prevent extinction but to see these rare fish thrive once again in their natural habitat.
“As a team of aquaculture specialists, our goal is to ensure these endangered fish are still around hundreds or thousands of years from now,” Professor Liu emphasizes. “We hope that through our consistent efforts, one day these rare fish can be seen everywhere. That is the result we hope to see in the long run.”
The efforts of conservationists like Professor Liu are showing promising results. Since the implementation of a 10-year fishing ban in 2021, the population of endangered fish in the Yangtze River has been steadily recovering. The ban, coupled with the dedicated work of scientists, offers a beacon of hope for the future of the river’s unique biodiversity.
Reference(s):
University professor leads biodiversity efforts in upper Yangtze River
cgtn.com
