LANZHOU, July 8 (Xinhua) -- West China's Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces Thursday launched their first-ever joint inspection on the fishery resources in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, China's second longest waterway.

The inspection, organized by the Yellow River Fishery Resources Management Committee under the Ministry of Agriculture, aims to better preserve the fishery resources, especially the species that were unique to the Yellow River such as wide tooth schizothoracin and Yellow River fish, said Wang Shouwen, director of the committee.

"Excessive fishing and slow growth of these species have caused a drastic decrease of fish in the Yellow River. During the inspection, there will be a crackdown on illegal fishing methods such as electrocution and poisoning, and the impact of hydraulic power projects on fishery and ecological environment in the Yellow River will also be evaluated," Wang added.

The inspection is scheduled to end on July 20.

Known as the "Mother River" of China, the Yellow River is the country' s second longest river, originating from west China's Qinghai-Tibetan plateau and traversing through nine provinces and regions before flowing into the sea in the east.