Chen Hongbin and the wild Chinese sturgeon he caught.
On the morning of August 8th, an old man from Jiangdu City unexpectedly caught a large fish resembling a Chinese sturgeon. After reporting it to the local fisheries department, it was confirmed to be a 12-year-old wild Chinese sturgeon. That morning, the sturgeon was released back into the Yangtze River.
Around 6:00 AM that morning, Chen Hongbin, a 68-year-old man from Xiangetown in Jiangdu City, accidentally caught a large fish on the water intake channel of the Jiangdu Hydraulics Hub. The Jiangdu Hydraulics Hub water intake channel is located at the intersection of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the Xintongyang Canal, and the Huai River's entry point into the Yangtze River, connecting directly to the Yangtze. Although Old Mr. Chen had never personally encountered a Chinese sturgeon before, he had seen them in newspapers and on TV, knowing they were a nationally protected species. He quickly reported the catch to the city’s fisheries station. Upon receiving the report, the station director, Xue Qingchang, and deputy director Wang Derong immediately went to the man’s home and confirmed that the large fish was indeed a wild Chinese sturgeon. After measurement, the sturgeon was found to be 1.25 meters long, with a chest circumference of 43 centimeters and weighing 11 kilograms, estimated to be about 12 years old. The wild Chinese sturgeon is a rare and unique fish species native to China, often referred to as a living fossil among aquatic creatures, and is classified as a first-class protected aquatic wild animal.
After inspection by professionals, it was determined that the Chinese sturgeon had not suffered any severe injuries and met the criteria for release. It was then carefully transported 20 kilometers away from the capture site to the banks of the Yangtze River. Following treatment for minor abrasions on its body, at around 8:30 AM, the Chinese sturgeon was successfully released into the Sanjiangying section of the Yangtze River. Fisheries personnel stated that with the improvement of urban ecological environments in recent years, rare fish species have been increasingly entering urban waters. They urged the public to cherish wildlife and promptly contact relevant departments such as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries if any rare species are discovered.
Written and photographed by Yu Xing and Chen Yong.
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