Yangtze Porpoise Population Surges Amidst Conservation Success

The population of the Yangtze finless porpoise, China's sole freshwater porpoise species, has risen to 1,426 as of 2025. This marks a notable increase from the 1,012 individuals recorded in 2017 and indicates a positive trend since the initiation of a 10-year fishing ban in 2021.

This recovery is a testament to the effectiveness of conservation measures aimed at revitalizing the Yangtze River ecosystem. Sightings of porpoises have become more frequent in areas like Wuhan and Nanjing. The establishment of five conservation zones has also bolstered protection for relocated porpoises, with over 150 individuals now residing in these protected waters and an average of 10 calves born annually.

Despite this progress, the species remains critically endangered, with its current numbers still only about half of those from the early 1990s. China has released an upgraded action plan targeting a wild population of approximately 1,700 by 2030 and 2,000 by 2035.

The positive trend in porpoise numbers reflects broader improvements in the Yangtze's aquatic biodiversity. Fish species diversity and abundance have rebounded steadily since the fishing ban began. Monitoring between 2021 and 2025 recorded 351 fish species, an increase of 43 compared to pre-ban levels. The unit biomass of fish in the main stream reached 2.4 kilograms in 2025, effectively doubling fish density from 2020 levels. The natural reproduction of the Chinese high fin banded shark, absent for over two decades, was also recorded in 2024 and 2025.