A changed post-flood management strategy enables the culture-based fishery of the Liangzi Lake, Yangtze River Basin, China, to remain economically and environmentally viable

The culture-based fishery of Liangzi Lake, Yangtze River Basin, established in 1992, yielded 2,652 t/year (±167) between 2005 and 2015, dominated by stocked carps [Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Val.) and Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Richardson)] and mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis (Milne Edwards), accounting for 53% and 23% of the production and 20% and 52% in value, respectively. The lake had a macrophyte cover dominated by Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara with a cumulative biomass of 10,647 g/m² that disappeared after a major flood in 2010 and changed its ecology.

Management changes in stocking strategies introduced in the post-flood period enabled the culture-based fishery to maintain viability and sustainability to combat the major ecological change in the lake. The stocked species contributed significantly to nutrient removal of 24.71 ± 5.12 t/yr and 6.29 ± 0.87 t/yr of total nitrogen and total phosphorus, respectively.<p></p>