Diverse events for the 24th South China Sea (Yangjiang) Fishing Season will be held from August 15 to 17 on Hailing Island in Yangjiang City with the festival reaching its largest scale, widest variety and highest event count to date.
The festival marks the end of the annual summer fishing moratorium in the South China Sea, a conservation practice that typically runs from May 1 to August 16 each year. During the moratorium, most marine fishing operations are suspended to allow fish stocks to replenish and ecosystems to recover, a crucial measure for sustainable fisheries.
This year's festival features a range of sporting competitions, marine recreational activities and seaside festivities, with participation and scale expected to set new records. From August 7, the start of pre-festival warm-up activities, to August 17, the number of visitors to the island is expected to reach 1 million.
On the afternoon of August 15, a traditional Tanka (fishing community) wedding procession will take place, offering visitors a glimpse into the region's distinctive coastal heritage. Another highlight is the seafood banquet, which will be served on the evening of August 15.
On the morning of August 16, a sea-worship ceremony will be held, during which local intangible cultural heritage troupes will perform ancient fishing rites, reflecting the fishermen's reverence for nature and gratitude for the sea.
The official fishing order will be issued at Zhapo Harbour after the sea-worship ceremony, accompanied by a colorful boat parade. Before the order is given, 13 decorated vessels from various counties and districts of Yangjiang, as well as from Hong Kong and Macao, will sail in formation through the harbour basin, presenting an immersive water-based tableau that showcases the achievements of Guangdong's rural revitalization.
Yangjiang, located in western Guangdong, boasts a maritime area of 11,900 square kilometers, the second largest in the province, and a mainland coastline of 504.35 kilometers.
The city has established the nation's largest seawater fish fry breeding base, producing 3.5 billion fingerlings annually, accounting for about 54 percent of Guangdong's total and 20 percent of the nation's total.
Yangjiang is also home to more than 3,400 registered fishing vessels, 38 aquatic product processing enterprises and 26 large-scale companies that have developed over 50 types of prepared seafood products, with an annual output reaching 80,000 tons.
Reporter | Chen Jinxia
Photos | Yangjiang Daily
