Chinese Sturgeon Conservation Alliance established on May, 2016

On the proposal of the China National Aquatic Conservation Association a national alliance named “Chinese Sturgeon Conservation Alliance” (CSCA, the Chinese sturgeon the Acipenser sinensis)) was established in Shanghai on May 21, 2016. Mr Li Yaninliang, president of China National Aquatic Conservation Association, has been elected as president of CSCA by the board of directors.  

Five vice-president's unit of the council of CSCA were elected in the first board meeting, specifically:

• •Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, CAFS
• •Institute of hydroecology, MWR&CAS
• •Department of Scientific & technology and environment protection, China Three Gorges Corporation
• •Beijing Aquarium
• •Shenzhen Huada Aquatic Science and Technology Company

Over 30 entities joined the Alliance as Council Members, including scientific research Institutes, nature reserves, aquariums and hatcheries, which are involved in Chinese sturgeon conservation, as well as NGOs. The secretariat of the alliance was set up in the Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, CAFS, and Prof. Dr. Wei Qiwei was elected secretary-general.

CSCA will integrate all the forces from government, scientific research institutes, nature reserves, enterprises and NGOs to form a joint force for the last chance to help Chinese sturgeon to return to the Yangtze River for natural reproduction and sustainable development of a natural population under the guide of the Action Plan for Chinese Sturgeon Conservation which was published in 2015 by the ministry of Agriculture of China.  All representatives agreed that the natural population of Acipenser sinensis is a good indicator of the heath status of the Yangtze River as well as the coast waters of China where are the fish habitat. Thus, protection of Chinese sturgeon will greatly help the improvement of aquatic eco-environment of the Yangtze river that is the developmental basis of the Yangtze River Economics Belt.