China's thriving ice and snow sports industry is fueling growth in the consumption of related equipment this winter, as sports like skiing become increasingly popular.
In Taiyuan City, north China's Shanxi Province, popular winter sports equipment is showcased in prime locations at shopping mall stores.
"This year, skiing products account for 30 percent of our total sales," said Wang Tongyan, a sales clerk at a sports store.
With the growing popularity of winter sports, related equipment, especially that for beginners, is gaining favor with many consumers, according to a staff member, Zhang Xinyue, at a snow sports store.
"Compared to last year, our sales have increased by 50 percent, with snowboards for beginners being more popular," she said.
According to preliminary statistics, advance bookings at ski resorts in Shanxi have generated over 30 million yuan (about 4.1 million U.S. dollars) this winter.
In Zhejiang Province in eastern China, many winter sports companies have recently reached their production peak.
"We have introduced around 100 new products, including this ski jacket, which can also take as casual wear," said Ji Guoyuan, sales director of a sports products company.
Winter sports products produced in Zhejiang are sold not only to northern China but also overseas.
The ski venues across the province have also seen a significant rise in visitors recently.
China has unveiled an ambitious plan in November to enhance its ice and snow economy, targeting winter sports, tourism, and equipment manufacturing as key drivers of economic growth, with a projected value of 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030.
China's ice-snow sports boom drives growth in related consumption
Switzerland, known for its pristine lakes and rich tradition of fishing, is facing a significant challenge of plunging fish stocks that could threaten the livelihood of many in the fisheries industry.
In recent years, local fishermen have seen their catches decline drastically, with about 90 percent of the fish consumed in the country now being imported. This shift reflects broader environmental changes impacting Swiss fisheries, and the difficulties local fishermen are enduring are becoming more evident each year.
At seven in the morning, as the first light of dawn begins to break, a handful of fishermen at a dock in Geneva prepare to head out to the lake to check the nets they set the previous day. As the long nets were hauled from the water, the catch of perch was relatively small, but the fishermen were still satisfied, especially since they managed to net two large pike, which would fetch a good price.
Francois Liani, a fisherman of 30 years, said 2024 has been the worst year for fishing with the lowest amount of catch.
"I have never seen anything like this in over 30 years. That's right, 2024 is the worst year in the past 30 years," he said.
Fifty years ago, there were more than 800 professional fishermen in Switzerland. Today, that number has dropped to fewer than 90.
"There are many reasons, but one of the most important reasons is global warming -- it is one of the biggest problems. We have also new mussels that come from the Black Sea on the Eastern Europe that came about five, seven years ago. They have a large impact on the food availability for the fishes," said Maxime Prevedello, communication officer for the French-speaking region of the Swiss Fishing Federation (SFV).
As a result, the growth rate of fish has slowed significantly. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, a professional fisherman was able to catch around 1,000 tons of fish annually. Today, that number has dropped to just around 100 tons -- a mere one-tenth of what it used to be, according to Prevedello.
In the summer of 2024, Switzerland once again endured high temperatures. Native fish species such as perch, grayling, and the Alpine char, which have adapted to cold water, have been particularly affected. According to Switzerland's environmental authorities, 58 percent of the country's native fish species are now classified as endangered.
Swiss fishermen face growing struggle as local fish stocks plunge
