The annual fishing moratorium on the Yellow River, the second longest river in China, will begin on April 1 and end on June 30.

A special law enforcement campaign will be carried out during the fishing ban period in nine provincial-level regions along the river, according to a joint notice issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security.

Relevant departments will crack down on illegal fishing activities, increase law enforcement efforts, innovate law enforcement methods and strengthen compensation measures for any environmental and ecological damage.

Special control measures will also be implemented for different sections of the river. Fishing will be banned in the river source area and upper reaches all year round, while phased fishing bans will be implemented in the middle and lower reaches, the notice said.

In addition, fishing activities will be strictly reviewed to prevent the use of fishing tools and methods that damage aquatic resources and to curb illegal fishing operations under the guise of recreational fishing.

The fishing ban aims to protect aquatic organism resources and biodiversity as excessive fishing threatens fishery resources. It will cover the main stream, three major lakes, and 13 tributaries linked to the Yellow River.