EcoChina | China achieves large-scale artificial breeding of endangered Sichuan taimen fish-Xinhua

The photo shows the fry of second-filial-generation Sichuan taimen at a fish proliferation and release station operated by a company under PowerChina Hydropower Development Group Co., Ltd. in Barkam City of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 18, 2025.(Xinhua/Wang Xi)

ABA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China has succeeded in large-scale artificial breeding of Sichuan taimen, an endangered fish species under first-class protection of the nation, the Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences said on Monday.

Over 12,000 second-filial-generation Sichuan taimen artificially bred so far in 2025 are now capable of taking food on their own, which is deemed a basic capability for their independent survival.

Researchers have successfully established an incubation technology system for fertilized eggs of Sichuan taimen, which significantly reduced deformity rates among the second-filial-generation fry.

The survival rate of this latest batch of fry has stabilized at over 90 percent, which lays a solid ground for efforts to restore the wild population of this endangered fish species, and ensures high-quality reserves for future proliferation and release work.