On May 17, the second batch of the third round of central ecological environmental protection inspectors reported a batch of typical cases, including the poor protection and restoration of Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province, and the frequent occurrence of ecological environmental problems.
The Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Supervision Group inspected Jiangxi Province and found that there are still a large number of small man-made dikes in Poyang Lake area in Nanchang, Jiujiang, and Shangrao, and at the same time, there are also illegal fishing gangs using nets, electric fish and other means. From 2022 to 2023, 5 finless porpoises will be found dead in Poyang Lake due to the entanglement of fishing nets or fishing nets. The sand and stone wharf in Lushan City, Jiujiang City was constructed illegally and illegally, allowing oil pollution to pollute the surrounding lake surface. During the on-site unannounced visit, the inspection team saw a small finless porpoise struggling desperately in an oil stain. The inspection team also found that the problem of agricultural non-point source pollution in Poyang Lake was prominent. Lack of supervision and ineffective work of local relevant departments have led to long-term problems in the protection and restoration of Poyang Lake.
China Environment News disclosed the secret visit.
It is reported that on March 24 this year, the inspection team found that an oil spill accident occurred on illegal dredging vessels, and a small finless porpoise was trapped in an oil contaminated area.
On March 24, the inspection team found that an oil leakage accident occurred on illegal dredging vessels, and a small finless porpoise was trapped in an oil contaminated area (source: "Ministry of Ecological Environment" WeChat official account) "It's a finless porpoise!" The inspectors couldn't believe the picture in front of them. On the water surface 2.7 kilometers away from the core area of Poyang Lake Yangtze River Finless Porpoise Provincial Nature Reserve, a small finless porpoise was circling and struggling in the oil pollution, trying to find a way to escape the oil pollution, but failed.
A comrade from the relevant department of Lushan City in Jiujiang said, "It can't be a finless porpoise! It's just a big herring."
"How could it be herring? It's such a clear finless porpoise with no dorsal fin. It needs immediate rescue!" After the inspector corrected, the comrade immediately said that it could be black fish or otter.
After repeated explanations by the inspectors, the comrade finally admitted that it was a small finless porpoise and explained that it was only a small probability event.
It is reported that after the discovery of the small finless porpoise, the inspectors, under the guidance of experts, could only ask relevant staff to drive it away and guide the small finless porpoise to swim out of the oil contaminated area because there was no rescue conditions at that time.
The inspectors found that the location of the finless porpoise was the construction site of the comprehensive wharf in the Shashan Operation Area, Xingzi Port District, Jiujiang Port. The project was located in Shashan Village, Xingzi Town, Lushan City. In March 2024, the inspection team found that the project was under dredging. On March 22nd and 24th, two oil spills occurred on dredging vessels. The construction unit Jiangxi Port Group neither reported nor took emergency measures to let oil pollution pollute the surrounding lake surface.
It is only 2.7 km away from the core area of Poyang Lake Yangtze Finless Porpoise Provincial Nature Reserve. Has the impact on the ecological environment been considered in the project construction?
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiangxi Province has made a detailed assessment of the impact of the project on the ecological environment in accordance with the Special Demonstration Report on the Impact of the Phase I Project of the Comprehensive Wharf in the Sand Mountain Operation Area of Xingzi Port District, Jiujiang Port on the Important Aquatic Organisms and Their Habitats in Poyang Lake, The influence on finless porpoise is mentioned. At the same time, the underwater construction of the project should avoid the spawning and breeding period of fish (March June) and the feeding and fattening period of fish fry. The dry season from December to February of the next year should be selected, but the migration of finless porpoise should be mainly observed to avoid damage to the finless porpoise. Therefore, The dredging operation of the project in March is against the regulations.
The finless porpoise is the only existing cetacean in the Yangtze River. It is a national priority protected wild animal and an important indicator species to test the effectiveness of the Yangtze River conservation and the health of the Yangtze River ecosystem. The finless porpoise was once endangered due to human activities such as overfishing. According to the scientific survey results of Yangtze finless porpoise in 2022 released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the number of Yangtze finless porpoise will reach 1249 in 2022, achieving a historic rebound.
Nearly half of the more than 1000 finless porpoises live in Poyang Lake. The survey in 2022 shows that the population of finless porpoise in Poyang Lake is about 492, and the distribution range is gradually expanding. This also shows that the ecological environment of Poyang Lake continues to improve and the protection measures for finless porpoises are effective. The oil pollution incident of small finless porpoise shows that there are loopholes in its habitat protection work.
The report shows that inspectors also encountered threats when obtaining evidence of illegal fishing in the local area.
The inspectors recalled that at that time, in the Lake District of Lushan City, Jiujiang, especially in the Changhu Dock, there were more than a dozen fish stealing gangs who illegally fished with dragnets and electric fish. The inspectors wanted to take photos with drones, but were blocked by the fish thieves.
The person who talked with the inspector had a bad attitude. When the inspector insisted on taking photos and getting evidence and was ready to leave, he still lay down at the inspector's window and threatened.
When the central ecological environment protection inspector concentrated on reporting the typical case, he pointed out that the relevant departments of Jiangxi Province and the three cities along the lake, Nanchang, Jiujiang and Shangrao, did not fully understand the importance of "putting the restoration of the ecological environment of the Yangtze River in an overwhelming position", did not pay enough attention to the construction of ecological civilization, lacked supervision, and did not work hard enough to overcome difficulties, This has led to the long-term existence of related problems in the protection and restoration of Poyang Lake. The inspection team will further investigate and verify the relevant situation and do a good job of follow-up supervision as required.
On May 17, the Standing Committee of Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee held a meeting, and Yin Hong, the secretary of Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee, presided over the meeting. The meeting heard the report on the disclosure of the first typical case of Jiangxi Province by the second batch of central ecological environment protection supervisors in the third round. The meeting stressed that the typical cases exposed this time pointed out the problem of "poor protection and restoration of Poyang Lake, and frequent ecological environmental problems", which fully reflected that some places did not have a good understanding of the implementation of ecological environmental protection of the Yangtze River, lack of supervision, and poor work. It is necessary to seriously reflect, accept all the bills, take the initiative to claim the accounts, analyze the reasons, clarify the responsibilities, and resolutely focus on rectification and improvement. It is necessary to adhere to the principle of "reform while supervising" and "reform while implementing", pay close attention to the formulation of rectification plans, implement the main responsibilities, refine and improve measures, and ensure the effectiveness of rectification. We should adhere to drawing inferences from one instance, systematically and comprehensively promote the comprehensive improvement of the ecological environment of Poyang Lake, comprehensively improve the ecological environment protection level of Poyang Lake, and earnestly protect the clean water of the lake.
Source: CCTV news client, WeChat official account of "Ministry of Ecological Environment", China Environment News, Jiangxi Daily, etc
Editor in charge: Trish
