Current sea catches are being served at Zhuhai dinner tables since the annual South China Sea fishing ban expired Aug 16 and, meanwhile, seafood from deeper waters will be available as soon as Thursday.

Sent off by lion dances and firecracker celebrations were 1,015 Zhuhai fishing boats and another 790 registered vessels from Hong Kong and Macao.

Zhang Yisheng, deputy mayor of Zhuhai, had inspected the anti-storm, flood, and epidemic works at Hongwan Central Fishing Port south of the Zhuhai Bridge before lifting the fishing ban. He urged local agricultural (fishery), water affairs, emergency management, health, and immigration authorities to ensure a safe and orderly fishery operation.

The three-and-a-half-month moratorium, which is in its 23rd year, began May 1. It prevents excessive fishing ecosystem and biodiversity in South China Sea areas between 26.30 degrees and 12 degrees north latitude (including the Beibu Gulf/Gulf of Tonkin).

Fishing boats from Hongwan Port return to sea [Photo by Wu Changfu / Guanhai App]