Due to the negative influence of human activities, the living environment of aquatic wildlife in the Yangtze River basin has been deteriorating, biodiversity continues to decrease, and some species are critically endangered. On the basis of literature review, the study carded the status of endangered aquatic wildlife species in the Yangtze River basin and discovered that the natural population number of many species has been extremely low and some of them have been endangered or extinct. They need to be protected immediately. Corresponding protection and management measures have been adopted by the Chinese government, and a relevant legal system for aquatic wildlife protection has been initially formed with some achievements. But the overall condition is still not optimistic. The factors that lead to the aquatic animal crisis in the Yangtze River are systematically studied in this article. Based on the analysis, corresponding protection measures are proposed:①put more emphasis on the protection of the entire ecosystem, and promote an integrated watershed protection model; ②improve existing laws and regulations, and promulgate the Yangtze River Protection Law as soon as possible; ③put major focus on local protection, with ex situ conservation as an auxiliary measure;④call for the demolition of some water conservancy facilities, and the establishment of special compensation;⑤strengthen related law enforcement supervision; ⑥increase investment in scientific research on the protection of endangered aquatic wildlife; ⑦encourage public participation and strengthen citizens' awareness of protection, in order to promote the development of endangered aquatic wildlife protection in the Yangtze River basin.