Three Gorges Reservoir boosts the natural fertility of fishes with viscid eggs

The Three Gorges Reservoir completed its first five-day eco-scheduling experiment for the natural reproduction of fishes with viscid eggs on May 5.

By controlling the water level at the reservoir through scheduling, the experiment created desirable water levels and conditions for the natural reproduction of fish with viscid eggs such as crucian carps.

For nine consecutive years since 2011, the Three Gorges Reservoir has conducted the eco-scheduling experiment to help the reproduction of fish with pelagic eggs from the lower reaches of Yangtze River to Gezhouba.

Thanks to the project’s ecological efforts, the total number of eggs spawned by the four major staple farmed species in the Yangtze River (black carps, grass carps, silver carps, and bighead carps) has been trending upwards.

The latest eco-scheduling experiment differed from past ones that were targeted at four staple fishes by enlarging the scope from downstream of the Three Gorges Dam to the whole Three Gorges Reservoir area.