At the Nanpai River Mouth, in Huanghua City, three million mullet fry and 800,000 baby crabs were released to the Bohai Sea recently. Meanwhile, 121.3 billion grains of fish spawn were released into the Panjiakou Reservoir and 100,000 sea cucumber fry into the sea off Qinhuangdao City.

Also, 15 tons of baby clams and 200,000 jellyfish fry were set free in the water area of Tangshan City. At Baiyangdian Lake, 2.74 million fry of silver carp, big-head carp and grass carp were released.

Sources with local aquatic departments said that the move would increase the aquatic resources in the Bohai Sea and drive the development of breeding, fishing, processing and distribution sectors.

According to their preliminary estimates, if 10 to 20 percent of the fry are caught later, a revenue of 23 million yuan (about US$2.77 million) will be generated this year. For each and every local fisherman, an extra income of 300 yuan (about US$36.14) will be received on average.

Due to years of excessive fishing in the Bohai Sea, the fishing industry of Hebei Province has sunk into the doldrums. To date, nearly 40 percent of fishing vessels have stopped work or have an alternative operation, and some 140,000 fishermen have become jobless.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2003)