River protection rules cut into incomes(2)

"All the rafts along the river were privately owned, and it was not safe enough for tourists. Accidents during peak season were not rare. Now, we register every one of them and limit the number of tourists each raft can carry. It's in the tourists' interest in the long run," he said.

The company's measures were also meant to limit the number of rafts on the river, Ni added.

"We aim for orderly and long-term development of the tourism industry," said Long Yanqiu, publicity chief of Yangshuo county, Guilin.

Part of the government's tourism revenue will be given to Yangshuo county residents, so those who sacrificed their income for the protection of the Lijiang River environment will also get a share, Long said. She didn't elaborate.

Zhao Ping, a fisherman in Xingping, rafts on the river trying to earn money carrying tourists when he's not fishing.

"The high ticket price has scared tourists away. Plus, this is the off-season. I don't expect to earn anything more than 20 yuan a day," Zhao said.

Yang Guihua, who used to be a fisherman, now makes money by charging tourists to be photographed with his two cormorants, each fastened by a belt to the end of a pole. They shoulder the pole like fishermen and pay 5 yuan for picture.

"I can make 200 yuan a day when business is good," Yang said. He said it is more difficult to catch fish in the river and he gave up that profession years ago.

"Even if the government limits fishing in the river, it won't affect my life much," Yang said.

But some people who depend on fishing for their livelihood are having problems.

Huang Yousong, a 70-year-old fisherman in Yangdi township, said there are not enough fish in the river nowadays because their populations have been greatly depleted by the widespread use of electric nets.

"As soon as night falls, you can see fishermen on the river using electric nets. The rest can't catch fish anymore."

Lacking a source of income, Huang receives a 250 yuan monthly subsidy from the Guilin government, but the payment is sometimes late.

"I wish the fishery administration would listen to us and take measures to stop electric fishing," Huang said.