Airports across China are required to closely monitor winter bird migration patterns and reinforce bird deterrent measures to ensure the safety of air travels, said an official of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on Friday.
At a press conference in Beijing, Shu Mingjiang, security director of the CAAC, stated that the CAAC has long conducted safety assessments and risk investigations on flight operations in accordance with China's civil aviation laws and regulations, as well as relevant international civil aviation standards. The CAAC promptly issues safety risk warnings to airlines that may be affected and adjusts flight routes to ensure safe operations. In addition, efforts have been strengthened to mitigate the risk of bird strikes.
"We have urged airports to closely monitor winter bird migration patterns, enhance bird deterrent measures both within airport grounds and the surrounding areas, and improve the effectiveness of bird strike prevention. This will involve strengthening the use of scientific and technological solutions to increase the accuracy of bird strike prevention and improve the identification of bird strike residues. Tailored prevention strategies will be developed based on the specific conditions of each airport and the behavior of local bird species, aiming to enhance the efficiency of bird strike mitigation efforts," said Shu.
Shu stated that the CAAC has also required thorough inspections to identify and address potential runway safety hazards, and enhanced emergency drills will further boost the efficiency of response measures.
According to the relevant data of the CAAC, there were no transport aviation accidents in China's civil aviation sector in 2024.
Chinese aviation regulator requires airports to strengthen bird deterrent measures
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
