In the vast land of our country, fishing has always been the preferred activity for many people's leisure and entertainment, especially for some retired middle-aged and elderly people, who often regard fishing as an indispensable part of life. However, in this natural paradise, there are some precious wild animals, some of which are even listed as national key protection objects. In this corner, we will take a look at some of the "national security" fish that should not be overlooked, learn about their uniqueness, and how to deal with them correctly when fishing.
First, let's focus on the Chinese sturgeon. As a unique product of eastern China, the Chinese sturgeon is known as the "king of fishermen" in the Yangtze River. This ancient creature has a long history and can weigh up to more than 500 kilograms. Every year in May and June, they travel in groups through the Yangtze River estuary, and in autumn they swim to the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
The Chinese sturgeon feeds on aquatic insects, molluscs and small fish, and its distinctive mouth shape and pointed triangular tail make it unique when swimming in the water. However, once this rare species is caught, we must release it wisely. The Chinese sturgeon is listed as a national first-class key protected wild animal and is a "living fossil" in the water.
Next, we focus on Matsue sea bass. Mainly found in the vicinity of the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea, and the Bohai Sea, this fish has a unique appearance, with fins resembling butterfly wings on the sides of the body and orange-red gills like lanterns on both sides of the head, making it very recognizable. Although its meat is firm and creamy, it was once loved by people.
However, in the 70s of the last century, due to the sharp decline in the number of water pollution, Songjiang sea bass was listed as a national second-class protected animal and was prohibited from fishing and sales. Therefore, anyone who comes across this species while fishing should be cautious and never commit illegal things for the sake of a momentary pleasure.
Next is the sesame sword, also known as the turtle turtle, which is one of the "four famous fish" of the Pearl River. The special appearance of the sesame sword includes an elongated sword-like body, black spots, and a long "beard". Although its meat is delicious and is known as a first-class product, the sesame sword is listed as a second-class protected animal in the "List of National Key Protected Wild Animals of China".
Even more alarming is the fact that the fish itself contains toxins, so extra caution is required when fishing in the wild. The sesame sword has been nicknamed "prison bottom fish" by netizens because of its rarity, and any angler should stay away from this species to avoid causing trouble.
In addition, we have Iwahara carp, which has an olive-shaped shape with a towering head and a dark body. This species is distributed in the Yangtze River basin, but due to overfishing and environmental degradation, the population of Iwahara carp has decreased dramatically, and it is listed as a national second-class key protected wild animal. Therefore, anglers must be careful when fishing, and once they find that it is Iwahara carp, release it immediately, and do not fish illegally.
Finally, we mentioned the baby fish, also known as the giant salamander. The salamander is the largest amphibian animal in China, distributed in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan and other places. Despite the word "fish" in its name, it is not a fish, but an amphibian. Baby fish inhabit streams in mountainous areas and feed on small fish and shrimp.
However, due to the scientific research value and edible taste, the wild number of salamander has decreased, and it has been listed as a national second-class key protected wild animal. When fishing, the best way to catch a salamander is to release it to protect this precious biological resource.
In the vast natural world, these nationally protected wildlife form part of the ecological balance, and each of us has a responsibility to protect these unique species. When enjoying the fun of fishing, we should always remember the importance of ecological protection, abide by relevant laws and regulations, and treat every encounter in nature with care.
Protecting wildlife is not only a legal responsibility, but also a respect and cherishment of the natural world. In this process, each of us can become the guardian of nature conservation and leave a more colorful natural paradise for future generations.