Social impacts, ecological effectiveness and long-term governance of ecological protection in Dongting Lake under the background of the 10-Year Fishing Ban on the Yangtze River: a comprehensive analysis based on local social research, project investigation and ecological monitoring data

Qiyan Zhang; Yilin Chen; Shu'ao Ma

doi:10.54254/2753-7102/2026.37371

Article Information

Received: 11 September 2026

Published: 28 September 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7102/2026.37371

Article Type: Research Article

Cite this article

Zhang,Q.;Chen,Y.;Ma,S. (2026). Social impacts, ecological effectiveness and long-term governance of ecological protection in Dongting Lake under the background of the 10-Year Fishing Ban on the Yangtze River: a comprehensive analysis based on local social research, project investigation and ecological monitoring data. Advances in Social Behavior Research,17(10),110-136.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

Disclaimer/Publisher's Note

The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of EWA Publishing and/or the editor(s). EWA Publishing and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

About this Journal

Journal: Advances in Social Behavior Research

Volume: Vol.17, Issue 10

ISSN: 2753-7102 (Print) / 2753-7110 (Online)

Copyright & License

[1]National People's Congress Standing Committee. (2020). Yangtze River Protection Law of the People's Republic of China. https://wb.flk.npc.gov.cn/flfg/texthtml/182c88bc2b6547e2a6673a1c6d6055ba.html

[2]General Office of the State Council. (2018). Opinions on strengthening the protection of aquatic living resources in the Yangtze River (State Council Document No. 95). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2018-10/15/content_5330882.htm

[3]Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Finance, & Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. (2019). Implementation plan for fishing ban and establishment of compensation system in key waters of the Yangtze River Basin. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-10/22/content_5443367.htm

[4]Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. (2019). Announcement on the scope and time of fishing ban in key waters of the Yangtze River Basin. https://www.moa.gov.cn/govpublic/CJB/201912/t20191227_6334010.htm

[5]General Office of the State Council. (2024). Opinions on resolutely advancing the 10-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River (State Council Document No. 12). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202403/content_6940787.htm

[6]Xinhua News Agency. (2020, January 1). Authoritative interview: A major event in Yangtze River protection—Vice Minister Yu Kangzhen of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs comprehensively interprets the new Yangtze River fishing-ban policy. https://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/01/c_1125411880.htm

[7]Hunan Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee. (2021). Regulations of Hunan province on Dongting Lake protection (Adopted May 27, 2021; amended July 31, 2026; implemented August 15, 2026). 2021 text: https://hunan.gov.cn/hnszf/szf/hnzb_18/2021/202120/202110/20909191/files/81a91fd2ff59419aa647e6439e59efab.pdf; 2026 amendment: https://hunan.gov.cn/hnszf/szf/hnzb_18/2026/2026016/02222gqgsdsddtcfvurptpusubvvggrfbfffbrhukgepdkfqnfkqfftpfbrpktrdpggegpbnmfhtfrvmrbsqnkqtmdrrmgm/202608/t20260831_34053594.html

[8]National Development and Reform Commission. (2018). Notice on issuing the comprehensive plan for water environment management of Dongting Lake (NDRC Regional Document No. 1783). https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/zcfb/tz/201812/t20181206_962335.html

[9]Hunan Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee. (2021). Decision on promoting and guaranteeing the fishing ban work in the Yangtze River basin. https://m.hnrd.gov.cn/content/2021/12/03/10484620.html

[10]General Office of Hunan Provincial People's Government. (2025). Implementation opinions on resolutely advancing the 10-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River. https://www.hunan.gov.cn/hnszf/xxgk/wjk/szfbgt/202504/t20250422_33651072.html

[11]Yangtze River Fishery Administration and Supervision Office, Changjiang Water Resources Commission, Yangtze River Basin Ecological Environment Supervision and Administration Bureau, & Changjiang River Administration of Navigational Affairs. (2026). Bulletin on aquatic biological resources and habitat conditions in the Yangtze River basin (2025). https://cjyzbgs.moa.gov.cn/ztzl/202604/t20260401_6482860.htm

[12]Yao, S., & Xiao, X. (2017). Research on the evolution of ecological governance policies of Dongting Lake since modern times.Journal of Wuling, 42(1), 24–30.

[13]Hong, D. (2014). Research and reflection on environmental sociology.Thinking, 40(4), 83–91.

[14]Xiao, P., & Su, J. (2024). Pollution perception, village identity and farmers' domestic waste disposal behavior—An empirical analysis based on 2508 farmer survey data in Hunan Province.Journal of South China Normal University (Social Science Edition), (2), 100–116.

[15]Xiong, Y., Wang, K., Li, H., & Guo, X. (2004). A preliminary study on resettlement engineering and sustainable development of resettlement areas in Dongting Lake region—A case study of Anxiang, Hanshou and Yueyang Counties in Hunan Province.Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 12(4), 204–206.

[16]Xiong, Y., Wang, K., & Wang, C. (2003). Ecological compensation mechanism of returning farmland to lake in Dongting Lake area.Rural Eco-Environment, 19(4), 10–13.

[17]Zhuang, D., Ou, W., & Ding, D. (2003). Study on ecological and economic benefits of returning farmland to lake in Dongting Lake wetland.Journal of Natural Resources, 18(5), 536–543.

[18]Zhang, L., Jiang, B., Zhen, Q., & Ouyang, Z. (2016). Evaluation of non-use value of Dongting Lake ecosystem.Wetland Science, 14(6), 854–859.

[19]Gao, X., & Sun, X. (2023). Research on the impact of livelihood capital on the income quality of decommissioned fishermen families—A case study of decommissioned fishermen in Hunan province.Research of Agricultural Modernization, 44(3), 501–512.

[20]Zheng, J., Wang, X., Chen, T., Yang, Y., & Qian, Y. (2025). Poverty reduction effect of livelihood resilience of decommissioned fishermen under the background of Yangtze River fishing ban.Economic Geography, 45(9), 161–171.

[21]He, Y., Chen, T., Liu, Z., & Li, Q. (2023). Impact of the Yangtze River fishing ban compensation policy on fishermen's livelihoods—A case study of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.Resources and Environment in the Yangtze Basin, 32(2), 311–323.

[22]Qing, Y., & Long, F. (2018). Water environment governance of East Dongting Lake based on the river chief system.Journal of Jishou University (Natural Science Edition), 39(4), 64–68.

[23]Publicity and Education Center, Ministry of Ecology and Environment. (2023). Report on citizens' ecological environment behavior (2022). https://www.prcee.org/zyhd/202306/t20230629_1034900.html

[24]Wang, C., Zhang, Y., Shi, H., et al. (2016). Community structure of macrozoobenthos and water quality assessment in Dongting Lake.Journal of Lake Sciences, 28(2), 395–404.

[25]Wang, C., Zhang, Y., Tian, Q., et al. (2021). Changes of macrozoobenthos community and analysis of driving factors in Dongting Lake from 1988 to 2016.Journal of Lake Sciences, 33(1), 218–231.

[26]Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2023, March 3). The critically endangered status of the Yangtze finless porpoise remains unchanged. https://www.cas.cn/cm/202303/t20230303_4877503.shtml

[27]Xinhua News Agency. (2021, September 19). Matters of concern to General Secretary Xi Jinping | This year, five people, so many new things. https://www.news.cn/politics/2021-09/19/c_1127881177.htm

[28]People's Daily. (2021, September 3). The most direct and effective measures to protect the Yangtze finless porpoise. http://hb.people.com.cn/n2/2021/0903/c194063-34896896.html

[29]Hunan Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee. (2026). Decision on revising and abolishing some local regulations and relevant decisions. https://hunan.gov.cn/hnszf/szf/hnzb_18/2026/2026016/02222gqgsdsddtcfvurptpusubvvggrfbfffbrhukgepdkfqnfkqfftpfbrpktrdpggegpbnmfhtfrvmrbsqnkqtmdrrmgm/202608/t20260831_34053594.html

[30]Research Group. (2026). Research report on ecological protection of Dongting Lake under the background of the Yangtze River fishing ban.

[31]Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. (2023, February 28). Materials of the press conference on phased achievements of the 10-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River and aquatic biological protection. https://www.moa.gov.cn/xw/bmdt/202303/t20230301_6421872.htm