The release of the Chinese sturgeons into the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River was held in Yichang City, Hubei Province, from March 24 to 25.

This event was co-sponsored by the Fisheries Supervision and Administration Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Hubei Province, the Yichang government and the China Three Gorges Corporation.

The Chinese sturgeon is a precious and ancient species, which originated in the Cretaceous period and has been living on Earth for 140 million years. Releasing the artificially bred sturgeons is conducive to the reproduction and recovery of the wild population of the species in the Yangtze River.

In order to promote natural populations of the Chinese sturgeon, the release activity took a variety of technological means. The T-tag is an in vitro marker suspended from the dorsal fin, similar to an external ID card, which has a number and contact information. When a Chinese sturgeon is found in danger, people can contact the researchers for rescue in time.

Sonar tagging (ultrasonic telemetry) consists of a transmitting and receiving device that monitors the physical condition of a Chinese sturgeon by attaching an ultrasonic transmitter to its body. The ultrasonic telemetry technology has a high spatial and temporal accuracy in studying the migratory habits of these animals.

Satellite tagging is the use of satellite systems as a medium so that monitoring signals can be received over long distances. Researchers have tagged large-sized Chinese sturgeons near sexual maturity with satellite tags, and will later evaluate the distribution of the Chinese sturgeons in China's offshore waters through satellite tag monitoring, analyze the main environmental factors affecting their survival and activities in the field, and provide a scientific basis for research on the marine life history of the Chinese sturgeons and the next step in the development of relevant conservation measures.

Since the release of the volunteer recruitment notice, many people have signed up and made appointments to participate in the online and offline releases. "The release of Chinese sturgeons has positive significance for the conservation of species diversity. As a Yichang resident, I am very happy to contribute to the Mother River," a resident with the surname Li said.

For more than 10 years, volunteers from the Three Gorges University have participated in the release of the Chinese sturgeons. "I was very excited to release the sturgeons into the river. I think that the protection of the Chinese sturgeons is also part of the great conservation of the river," said Wang, a volunteer student.

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