On the morning of April 12, 200,000 six-month-old second-generation juvenile Chinese sturgeons were successfully released at the Houduting dock in Yanjiang Village, Libu Town, Jingzhou District. These sturgeons will grow freely in the Yangtze River, contributing to the recovery of the species’ population.The event was co-hosted by the Hubei Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the China Three Gorges Corporation, with the Jingzhou Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs as the organizer. The Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences and the Jingzhou Chinese Sturgeon Conservation Center provided the juvenile sturgeons for release.

Known as the “giant panda of the water,” the Chinese sturgeon is a first-class nationally protected aquatic wildlife species. It serves as both a flagship species for the Yangtze’s aquatic biodiversity and a key indicator of the river’s ecological health. According to the plan, Jingzhou will conduct three release events this year, totaling over 1 million second-generation juvenile Chinese sturgeons. On March 28, 600,000 juvenile Chinese sturgeons and 5,000 Yangtze sturgeons were successfully released. Another release is scheduled for June 6, featuring 200,000 second-generation juvenile Chinese sturgeons along with 500,000 juvenile longsnout catfish and Chinese high-fin banded sharks. These efforts will help scientifically conserve the Yangtze’s aquatic resources, revitalize the river’s ecosystem, and promote harmony between humans and nature. 

Following the release, relevant authorities will conduct public awareness campaigns on sturgeon conservation, strengthen law enforcement, and implement post-release tracking to ensure the initiative achieves tangible results.