SHANGHAI, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Large amounts of artificially-bred fish fry are expected to be released into the Yangtze River from Thursday to increase the river's aquatic stocks.

Thursday coincided with the World Water Day. Releasing fish fry was one of many water conservation activities held to raise public awareness of water resource preservation.

In Shanghai, around 200,000 fish fry were released into the river Thursday morning.

The municipal fisheries department said about 100 million fry from over 20 species of fish will be released into major fish breeding bays and lakes in the lower reaches of the river.

The annual three-month fishing ban took effect in Yangtze River, the longest river in China, and its major tributaries on Feb. 16.

The released fish fry will help replenish the fish stock in the river, according to the department.