China News Agency, Qinghai Gangcha, June 10th: The endangered species Qinghai Huangyu opens the migration season of "nine deaths and lives"

  China News Agency reporter Li Jiangning

  In Qinghai Lake in June, water birds flock together and fish flock to the shallow bottom.

At this time, the endemic species of Qinghai Lake, Huangyu, also embarked on an annual migratory journey, welcoming the arrival of new life through this arduous journey.

Huangyu, scientific name Qinghai Lake naked carp, is a plateau indigenous fish and the flagship species in the "water-bird-fish" ecological chain of Qinghai Lake.

The picture shows Huang fish swimming upstream to spawn.

Photo by Ma Mingyan

  The scientific name of "Huangyu" is Qinghai Lake naked carp. As the only large wild commercial fish in Qinghai Lake, naked carp occupies the core position of the "water-fish-bird-grassland" ecosystem.

In 2004, it was listed as an endangered species in the "Red List of Chinese Species" by the China International Cooperation Committee on Environment and Development.

  The reporter saw in the Shaliu River, Gangcha County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, that many Huangyu have gathered here. The wonder of river fish.

The picture shows Huang fish swimming upstream to spawn.

Photo by Ma Mingyan

  "Qinghai Lake is a salt-water lake. Huang fish will try their best to migrate to the upper reaches of the freshwater rivers that enter the lake at the cost of their lives, stimulate the development of gonads, and breed offspring." Xu Yongliang, captain of the first squadron of the comprehensive administrative law enforcement brigade of agriculture and animal husbandry in Gangcha County, said, The end of May to the end of August is the migratory season of Huangyu. The freshwater channels of the Shaliu River, Buha River, Quanji River and their tributaries into the Qinghai Lake are important migratory spawning grounds.

  The road of Huangyu's migration and reproduction can be described as "thousands of difficulties and dangers".

At this time, summer migratory birds that need to "feed their families" fly thousands of miles to the surrounding area of ​​Qinghai Lake. Huang fish is one of the most important foods for summer migratory birds. When migrating, you should always be alert to the birds waiting to hunt them by the river.

The picture shows Huang fish swimming upstream to spawn.

Photo by Ma Mingyan

  And the ups and downs of the migratory journey are far more than that.

  "In the past, due to the need for irrigation of farmland around Qinghai Lake, dams were built on the main rivers where Huangyu spawned." Xu Yongliang said that these dams also blocked the way for Huangyu to spawn upwards.

  The reporter learned that in order to solve this problem and provide more and wider breeding channels for Huangyu, since 2005, Qinghai officials have built a fish channel next to the barrage, so that Huangyu can cross the barrage to reach the spawning ground.

With this special "life channel", the stepped fish passage can help Huangyu easily jump over the height of the steps.

The picture shows Huang fish swimming upstream to spawn.

Photo by Ma Mingyan

  In the Quanji River, the reporter saw that the densely packed Huangyu in the river was jumping step by step on the migration channel specially built for it.

Among them, there are some Huangyu that were washed back by the current and are ready to go again in the river.

  "Huangyu migratory lives with nine deaths. If there is no rain for a long time, some fish will be stranded on the shore and die. During this period, we will patrol the river every day, and if there are any stranded fish, they will be rescued immediately." Xu Yongliang said, "In the early stage of the migration, We have promoted the protection of huang fish to the surrounding people and businesses. In recent years, the public has a strong awareness of protection, and they all know the importance of huang fish to the ecological environment, so there has been no poaching."

  The reporter saw at Guanyutai in Quanji Township that many anchors were using their mobile phones to start live broadcasts to show fans the spectacle of Huangyu's migration.

Li Xiaotong is a local live broadcast "net celebrity" in Qinghai. He usually publishes videos about cute wild animals or natural scenery all over Qinghai. He has 600,000 fans on the short video platform.

  "I started doing live broadcasts last year, and it was also at this time. The first live broadcast was Huangyu Migratory. I didn't expect the effect to be very good, so I started to do short videos and live broadcasts full-time." Li Xiaotong said, "In the past, Huangyu Migratory Seasons would be held. It has attracted many domestic and foreign tourists to come and watch. In recent years, due to the epidemic, many tourists have not been able to come, but I can see this spectacular scene through my live broadcast, and let more people know and understand this species."

  "Since 2003, Qinghai has fully implemented the closure of the lake for fish breeding and zero fishing. After the establishment of the naked carp rescue center, it began to study the artificial reproduction of naked carp, so that the naked carp can be effectively protected." The person in charge of the original breeding farm of the Qinghai Lake naked carp rescue center Tian Wengen said, "Since the large-scale proliferation and release in 2002, the 156 million original seedlings of Qinghai Lake naked carp from the Qinghai Lake naked carp rescue center have contributed 23% to the restoration of Qinghai Lake naked carp resources."

  According to the data of Qinghai Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in 2002, the reserves of naked carp resources in Qinghai Lake were only 2,592 tons, which was 123 times lower than the original resources.

By the end of 2021, the reserves of naked carp resources in Qinghai Lake have reached 108,500 tons, an increase of nearly 42 times compared with 2,592 tons in the initial stage of protection in 2002.

(Finish)