Fishermen and farmers in the vicinity of Poyang Lake in east China's Jiangxi Province have been notified by the local fishing authority that bans on shipping and fishing on the lake went into effect.

In a move to protect the environment and local marine resources, some 20,000-mu (1332.26 hectares) of Poyang Lake, mainly under the jurisdiction of the province's Xingzi County and the Yongxiu County, will be closed to both fishing and shipping, from this winter through next spring.

According to Qian Xin'e, a local fishing official, the ban stipulates that no fishing boats will be allowed on the lake and fishermen will be prohibited from catching any fish during this period.

Any individuals or organizations found violating the ban will face legal punishment.

Annually since 1986, Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, has enacted a fishing ban between March 20 and June 20 -- the prime spawning season for commercial fish.

The lake's annual shipping ban is imposed from October 10 to the following April mainly on six ports with plentiful fish habitats.

Covering an area of 3,583 square km, Poyang lake is now home to diverse species of marine life and migratory birds.

(China Daily 10/16/2001)