On June 5th, World Environment Day, a coordinated fish stocking initiative was launched simultaneously at five hydropower stations along the upper reaches of the Jinsha River, including the Yebatan, Batang, and Suwalong stations. More than 680,000 fry of rare native fish species were released into the flowing waters, commencing their life journey in the upper Jinsha River.
This stocking event marked the first large-scale application of otolith thermal marking or fluorescent marking technology in China, achieving 100% marking coverage for all released fry. This technological advancement provides precise data support for scientifically evaluating the effectiveness of stocking efforts and protecting aquatic biodiversity. The released species included various rare native fish of the river basin, such as Schizothorax dolichonema, Schizothorax kozlovi, Schizothorax wangchiachii, Schizopygopsis malacanthus, and Gymnocypris potanini.
The activity invited participation from over 350 local residents, media representatives, fishery administration officials, and teachers and students from nearby schools. Participants collectively released the fish fry into the river, gaining an immersive experience of the integrated practice of clean energy development and ecological protection being advanced in the upper Jinsha River basin.
Alongside the release, on-site educational outreach on aquatic biodiversity protection was conducted. The program offered a panoramic view, from the perspective of the fish, of the complete life cycle of native species—from artificial breeding to their return to the natural environment. The fry were bred at artificial propagation stations, including the Yebatan station, known as the "first level of the mighty Yangtze," and the Suwalong station, the largest of its kind in Tibet. After scientific rearing and wilderness acclimation training to meet release standards, the fish were set free. This effort employs a dual-driven approach of "stock enhancement coupled with habitat restoration" to safeguard aquatic biodiversity in the upper Yangtze River.
To date, cumulative fish releases in the Sichuan-Tibet section of the upper Jinsha River basin have exceeded 7.52 million individuals, with over 800 kilometers of river channels preserved as fish habitats.
Ecological and environmental protection efforts extend beyond fish stocking. In developing the upper Jinsha River basin's integrated water-solar-wind energy base, the operating company adheres to a unified philosophy of development within protection and protection within development. It has established a comprehensive closed-loop management model spanning "planning, construction, operation, assessment, and optimization." Its ecological and environmental protection practices have been showcased multiple times on international platforms, offering a replicable model for the dynamic, lifecycle environmental management of major river basins across the nation.
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