Are river protected areas sufficient for fish conservation? Implications from large-scale hydroacoustic surveys in the middle reach of the Yangtze River.

The Chenglingji, Dengjiakou, Zhuankou, Hankou, Yangluo, and Huangsangkou sections, which are located in non-reserves, play equally important roles in the conservation of fish populations in the MRYR. Our results indicated that further optimization is urgently needed for the currently protected areas in this region. These areas should be designated as reserves, and classification protection mechanisms should be adopted to strengthen the effectiveness of fish conservation in the MRYR.