The 23rd South China Sea (Yangjiang) Fishing Season is being held from August 15 to 17 on Yangjiang's Hailing Island, marking the end of this year's three-and-a-half-month summer fishing ban.
With the fishing ban lifting order issued at noon on August 16, over 3,400 fishing boats from the city set sail for the sea simultaneously, marking the largest number of vessels to depart at once during any previous fishing season opening event.
The Fishing Season event, first launched in 2003, holds great significance for local fishermen. It serves as a key occasion for them to joyously celebrate the start of fishing periods and earnestly offer prayers for bountiful catches.
The event is steeped in tradition, encompassing the ceremonial proclamation to commence the fishing season and showcasing captivating performances involving sailboats and sailboards.
Starting on May 1, the annual summer fishing ban aims to protect fish and other marine resources in China's surrounding waters during the summer season.
As a major marine province with the longest mainland coastline in China, Guangdong boasts extremely rich fishery resources. In 2024, Guangdong's marine GDP exceeded 2 trillion yuan, making it the first province in China to achieve this milestone.
Yangjiang has a sea area of 11,900 square kilometers, ranking second in the province. In 2024, its marine GDP reached 49.55 billion yuan.
Reporter | Chen Jinxia
Video | Xu Xiaoxin
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
