China is to enhance the protection of aquatic life in the Yangtze River region, according to a guideline released by the State Council on Oct 15.

The goal is to make fishing off-limits throughout the year, improve the construction and oversight of the conservation areas for aquatic life and curb the trend of a worsening ecological environment and decreasing diversity of aquatic life by 2020. By 2035, the ecological environment will be greatly improved, with its aquatic resources increased.

It urged coordinating the overall protection, systematic restoration and comprehensive management of the mountains, rivers, forestry, lands, lakes and grasslands in the Yangtze River region, and scientifically designating areas for mariculture, or the cultivation of marine life.

According to the guideline, rescue-oriented protection actions also will be given to rare and endangered aquatic species in the region, represented by the Chinese sturgeon, called acipenser sinensis, acipenser dabryanus, and the Yangtze finless porpoise.