At four o’clock on a late-autumn morning, the winds on the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau cut sharply through the dark. Inside the fish breeding station at the Ma’erdang Hydropower Station, activity was already in full swing. Staff carefully transferred juvenile fish from the rearing ponds into holding bags. As dawn broke and a faint shimmer spread across the Yellow River, the fish were precisely loaded into live-fish transport vehicles, quietly marking the start of a life-restoration relay vital to the region’s ecological recovery.

Staff at the Ma’erdang Hydropower Station’s fish breeding center checking the condition of the juvenile fish

That day, representatives of the Ma’erdang Hydropower Station, local government officials and nearby residents gathered on the banks of the Yellow River to witness the release of 271,000 juvenile fish into the reservoir, breathing new vitality into the waters.

Scientific Training: From Greenhouse to Wilderness

Beside the transport truck, staff efficiently completed water injection, tagging, oxygenation and sealing to ensure the juvenile fish remain in optimal condition throughout the transfer process.

Before their release, these fish underwent systematic acclimation training at the Ma’erdang breeding station. In the wild-simulation pools designed to mimic natural river conditions, Yellow River water flows continuously, and rearing is conducted in running water. To improve survival rates, staff stop providing artificial feed, switch to natural food sources, and gradually increase flow velocity. This strengthens the juveniles’ swimming ability and adaptability, ensuring they can survive independently once returned to the river.

The juvenile fish released during the stocking activity

A Three-Year Ecological Commitment

This release marks the third consecutive year of restocking efforts at the Ma’erdang Hydropower Station. Since September 2023, a total of 582,000 rare fish have been released back into the Yellow River. Over three years, each leap of a juvenile fish has left its mark on the river’s waves, bearing witness to the steadfast commitment of the station’s staff to protecting lucis waters and lush mountains.

“Slow down, steady now,” murmured Wang Zhengxiong, head of the breeding station, as he routinely checked each holding bag. Kneeling beside the water, he dipped his hands into the frigid river and gently cupped a few juveniles. As someone who has accompanied them from hatching to maturity, he spoke softly: “Ever since the station began operation, we’ve watched them hatch, grow, and now see 271,000 of them return home. It’s like watching your own children find their way back—gratifying, but a little bittersweet.”

Over the past three years, the Ma’erdang breeding station has grown from nothing into a fully functioning facility. With professionalism and dedication, the operations team has built a thriving “l(fā)ifeline” deep within the Guoluo Plateau.

“Control the release speed to reduce stress,” Wang continued as he slowly eased the fish into the river. Volunteers formed three groups and used specially designed chutes to release the fish smoothly. As soon as they touched the water, the fish flicked their tails and darted toward deeper currents.

Volunteer Engagement and Scientific Monitoring

Next to the ceremony area, staff set up five transparent display boxes labeled with the species being released, allowing the public to observe their characteristics at close range. Educational brochures explained the significance of restocking efforts and raised awareness of aquatic conservation.

Juvenile platypharodon extremus displayed during the event

Along the riverbank, Uren Tuya, participating in the release for the third time, carefully guided the juveniles into the chute and watched them disappear into the water. “The river remembers everything,” she said. “These years, the hydropower station has always balanced engineering with ecology, installing fish-lifting systems, organizing regular releases, conducting wildlife-protection measures, and maintaining ecological flows. I truly feel their respect and determination for protecting the environment.” Her simple words reflect the most precious echo of the station’s development—the steady, strengthening pulse of ecological recovery.

The release is only the beginning. Staff will carry out fixed-point monitoring, sample fishing and DNA analysis to track population changes and natural reproduction. These data will provide scientific support for biodiversity studies at Ma’erdang.

Volunteers releasing juvenile fish

To mitigate the dam’s impact on fish migration, the hydropower station has installed two fish-lifting systems at the base of the dam, paired with transport vehicles that carry gathered fish upstream for release. The fish breeding station beside the dam continues to replenish rare species in the Yellow River Basin, helping maintain ecological balance.

Behind these efforts is deep collaboration between the Ma’erdang Hydropower Station and research teams in Wuhan, driving continuous breakthroughs in artificial breeding technologies. Every juvenile fish carries the painstaking efforts of engineers who monitor water temperature, oxygen levels and current velocity day and night, as well as the precise formulation of nutrient feed. From fertilized eggs to first feeding, every detail embodies silent guardianship and scientific rigor.