自...起 since
It is correct, "自???起" means "Since ???"
自 = from
起 = begin
"(自) ??? (起)" = "(begin from) ???" = "(Since)???"
e.g."自七月起禁止捕魚" (Ban on fishing since July)
Other common structures with 自:
"自(from) ??? 以來(thereafter)" = "since ???"
e.g. 自美國立國以來 (Since the founding of the United States thereafter)
"自 (from) ??? 以後/之後 (after)" = "since ???"
e.g. 自美國立國以後 (Since after the founding of the United States)