The Chinese sturgeon has been seen to be at the brink of extinction following rapid dam construction and over population in the Yangtze River, reported a local newspaper.

The large bottom-feeding fish has been recorded to have existed for over 140 million year. According to a report from state-backed newspaper Xinhua, natural reproduction of the wild sturgeon has not taken place last year in Yangtze River.

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The report continued saying this was the first time that no natural reproduction has taken place. This was after researchers started to record the sturgeon’s reproduction levels about 32 years ago.

According to Chinese researchers, the fall of the Chinese sturgeon’s reproduction rate is due to the increase of pollution in the Yangtze River. The rampant construction of dams in the river has also been seen as a possible reason.

Chinese officials have been building dams along the Yangtze River to strengthen the supply of electricity in the country. This has gained a lot of criticisms from environmentalists who see the move as a posing threat to numerous aquatic life forms.

Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences researchers also said there were no young sturgeon fishes swimming along the river. This was unusual especially during a period when they usually do.

The report from Xinhua continued citing a researcher saying that during the 80s, several thousand sturgeons could be found in Yangtze. However, the number of remaining Chinese sturgeon has been estimated to be about 100.

The researcher said, "Without natural reproduction, the fish population cannot replenish itself. If there are no further steps taken to strengthen conservation, the wild sturgeon faces the danger of extinction."

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, a native Yangtze River species of dolphin, the Baiji, has gone extinct in 2006 due to decreasing fish stocks. Another species, the finless porpoise, was also seen to be on the brink of extinction following illegal fishing and pollution.

TagsChinese sturgeon, Yangtze River, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, World Wide Fund for Nature