Chinese and American delegates exchange information in wrap up meeting in Beijing China photo FWS

Pam Thiel of the LaCrosse National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office and Doug Aloisi of the Genoa National Fish Hatchery travelled to China in October as part of a Conservation Exchange forum between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the People's Republic of China.  The recent visit was to exchange methods and strategies for aquatic resource conservation in the face of continuing stresses currently on both China and the United States aquatic resources.  Nine FWS fisheries program delegates from across the U.S. attended the meetings and site visits, which were planned and scheduled by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the USFWS division of International Affairs.   Included in the trip were presentations to the Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science, and site visits followed the Yangtze River visiting the Chinese Sturgeon Institute and the Laboratory of Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation, as well as visiting established nature reserves along the Yangtze River.  Included was a presentation on the conservation status of rare and Endangered fishes such as Chinese Sturgeon, Chinese sucker, Chinese paddlefish, and Dabry's sturgeon.  The Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science also presented the history and development of Conservation Law in China.  A reciprocal visit is being planned with Chinese scientists visiting key fisheries stations and recovery locations in the United States in April of 2009 in order to further conservation strategies in aquatic systems impacted by dams and other effects of development and land use.  The LaCrosse area fisheries offices were able to share their thoughts and experiences involving sturgeon restoration and big river systems.  Through these visits it is hoped to be able to share experiences and challenges that are faced daily in the fields of aquatic resource conservation, and to learn from each others experiences to be able to save some of the world's most unique and Endangered aquatic species such as the Yangtze River Dolphin, Chinese Sturgeon and Yangtze finless porpoise.