Up to 100 tons of naked carp are currently trapped in a drying river during their crucial spawning migration season in northwest China's Qinghai Province. Although over 17 tons of such carp have been saved, some have died of suffocation and most are still in danger in the Quanji River, according to a local fishery official yesterday.

Naked carp is a valuable, rare species living in China's biggest saltwater body, the Qinghai Lake, at 3,195 meters above sea level.

The fish swim to freshwater rivers during the annual spawning season. This year, more than 85 percent of the rivers around the Qinghai Lake dried up because of continuous dry spells, including the Buha River, Shaliu River, Quanji River and Heima River.

Apart from drought, increasing use of water for agriculture has aggravated aridity in some parts of the Quanji River, where naked carp are vying to spawn in the upper reaches.

Nearly 40 rescuers, including 25 officials from local fishery and forestry departments, have been working hard to transport the endangered fish to the areas with adequate water, said Jia Dewei, director of the local fishery administration in Gangca County.

It is very unfortunate to see almost 100 tons of carp lying in a drying river course, said Jia, calling for more urgent, prompt help.

But this is not the first time this species of carp has experienced disaster.

In June, some naked carp were blocked in the Shaliu River during their spawning migration to the upper reaches and luckily were rescued by ensuing days of rain.

(China Daily July 9, 2003)