The annual summer fishing moratorium ended at noon Saturday in the South China Sea and parts of the East China Sea, sending tens of thousands of fishing vessels from Chinese coastal provinces including Guangdong, Fujian and Guangxi out to sea for the new fishing season.
In Guangdong, over 800 boats set sail from the national-level fishing port in Yangjiang City, while another 1,000 vessels departed from Shanwei's ten major ports, as the province's total fleet of about 21,000 ships headed to various fishing grounds in the South China Sea.
In Fujian, nearly 250 vessels left the Huangqi Central Fishing Port in Fuzhou City, a key national port on the southeast coast, sailing in groups of five each toward the Mindong fishing grounds. Many of the boats will operate at sea for about a month, with crews busy loading ample supplies of food and fresh water in recent days.
Local fishery authorities inspected nets on each vessel to ensure compliance with size regulations that are intended to protect juvenile fish, while coast guard and other law enforcement ships escorted the fleet out to ensure safe and orderly departure.
In Guangxi, more than 1,000 fishing boats set out from the Qisha Fishing Port in Fangchenggang City on Sunday, with the first hauls expected to be shipped nationwide via cold chains.
Coastal cities are also leveraging the season to boost marine tourism and seafood processing, blending fishing traditions with local cultural tourism experiencing programs.
Fishing season opens in South China Sea, parts of East China Sea
