Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China, which is rich in freshwater fish such as four major fishes, carp and yellow catfish. Coupled with the developed agriculture in the surrounding paddy fields, Dongting Lake has become a well-known "land of fish and rice".

Dongting Lake is rich in fishery resources, and there are 1 17 recorded fish species. However, compared with the other four freshwater lakes, the consumption rate of fishery resources in Dongting Lake is also worrying.

In fact, the embarrassing situation that Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River basin are caught in "no fish to catch" is not the "bitter fruit" caused by three years and five years, nor is it caused by a single factor. Dongting Lake faces many threats, one of which is the shrinking of the lake area.

Hydrological distribution map of Dongting Lake area

There are many reasons for the continuous decline of the water level in Dongting Lake, the most important of which is the large-scale reclamation activities around the lake.

In the past 25 years, nearby residents have opened up 28 large-scale farms around Dongting Lake area, covering an area of more than 6,543,800 mu, and the water surface of the lake area has decreased by 88.6 square kilometers every year. The result of "grabbing land" by crops and fish and shrimp is that a large area of wetlands and tidal flats around Dongting Lake are filled up and converted into farmland.

Changes of water level in Dongting Lake area before and after returning farmland to the lake.

Reclamation activities around Dongting Lake are not a special case. At that time, "reclaiming farmland around lakes" was common all over the country. In Taihu Lake, Poyang Lake, Hongze Lake, Chaohu Lake and even Dianchi Lake in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, "Reclaiming farmland around lakes" is a resounding slogan. At that time, the lake reclamation area was responsible for producing food, but the ecological cost was irreparable.

Large-scale reclamation activities seriously damaged the spawning grounds of the four major fish, carp, crucian carp and other economic species, which directly led to the subsequent decline in production.

There are many reasons for the decline of fishery resources in Dongting Lake. In addition to the reclamation mentioned above, the construction of water conservancy projects, the discharge of industrial and domestic wastewater, uncontrolled fishing and overfishing are also "culprits".

Clear water and lush mountains are priceless wealth. After the fishing ban, can the ecological environment of Dongting Lake be restored to the level of 1960s and 1970s? We might as well wait and see!