HARBIN, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The autumn fishing moratorium on two China-Russia border rivers, the Heilong (known as the Amur in Russia) and its tributary the Wusuli, started on Sunday.
October is the spawning season for salmon, which migrates from the Pacific Ocean to spawn. The two rivers are the major birthplace of salmon in China.
The China-Russia joint fishing moratorium has two phases a year, in summer and in autumn. The autumn ban will be in effect for 20 days, while there are a total of 55 closed fishing days in a year.
Yu Zichun, a border police officer with Heilongjiang provincial public security department, said during the moratorium, patrols will be carried out to enforce the ban.
Chinese fishery departments normally check fishermen's equipment and vessels during the off season, and organize the release of salmon fry in the rivers. About 2 million fry were released into the Heilong and Wusuli rivers every year.
