OVER 2 million small fish and shrimps were released into the Shenzhen Bay area Wednesday to boost fishery resources in the area during the summer fishing moratorium, the Shenzhen Economic Daily reported Thursday.

    A total of 1.41 million black seabreams and 12.95 million shrimps were released in the area this year, including 211,470 black seabreams and 7.95 million shrimps donated by over 20 Shenzhen enterprises and 60 residents.

    The national agricultural ministry launched a fish-release movement on June 6 when the fishing moratorium started, and Shenzhen is one of 300 releasing sites nationwide.

    The city’s economy, trade and information commission’s spokesperson said small fish and shrimps have been released in Shenzhen’s eastern sea area over the past decade, and releasing sites have been relocated to the Pearl River estuary and Shenzhen Bay area since 2014 to balance the marine ecosystem.

    The bay area east of Shenzhen Bay Bridge was designated a no-fishing zone by the municipal government in May 2014, and fish releases have seen the community join in since last year.

    A spokesperson for the Shenzhen fisheries service and aquatic product technology extension center said fish, shrimp, crab and shellfish from artificial breeding bases will be released in natural water areas to reproduce fishery resources and maintain biodiversity.

    The city’s fishery department started fish releases in 1987, and 355.16 million shrimps, 19.25 million small fish, 196 tons of clams, 25 million scallops and 474,000 abalones had been released into the city’s sea as of the end of last year.

    Shenzhen has several releasing sites for sea-water species including Yangmeikeng, Nan’ao, Yantian and Shekou areas, according to the report.

    (Zhang Yang)