Another endangered Chinese sturgeon has been found dead in the Yangtze River.

 

Experts said the fish, the ninth one longer than three meters found dead of unknown reasons since November, may indicate a decline in the river's condition.

 

"There hasn't been such a frequent amount of death and injury reports of adult Chinese sturgeon in the past decades," said Zhuang Ping, deputy director of the East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute.

 

Zhuang said the institute was sure the deaths were not caused by an increase in fish numbers.

 

On May 26, a fisherman from Chongming County found the body of a large Chinese sturgeon floating in the sea near Chongming Bridge.

 

He reported it to the Chinese sturgeon protection division.

 

Experts did not find any obvious wounds or artificial tags on the fish.

 

Because the fish had been dead for some time, its organs and muscles had rotted badly and experts could not determine a cause of death.

 

On May 2, a 3.3-meter Chinese sturgeon was found dead at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

 

Experts say the Chinese sturgeon is an endangered species under state protection.

 

(Shanghai Daily May 29, 2007)