NANCHANG, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The annual fishing ban on the Poyang Lake, China's biggest freshwater lake, started Tuesday.

Scores of fishing boats were docked in the bay area near Hongwei Village of Nanchang City, in east China's Jiangxi Province, as the fishing ban began at Tuesday noon. Any form of fishing is strictly banned from March 20 to June 20.

The Poyang Lake has rich water and fishing resources, but natural reasons and rampant fishing have caused the resources to decrease significantly. Starting in 2002, the fishing ban was put in place each spring.

"The fishing ban effectively protects fishery resources on the Poyang Lake and contributes to sustainable development and biodiversity there," said Shu Chang, head of the fishery bureau of the Poyang Lake.

Authorities said they would patrol frequently to weed out any illegal activity.