Fishing Busy in the South China Sea, Thousands of Sails Race to Harvest Red | Xinying Port, Lingao County, Hainan | South China Sea
On the morning of August 16th, in Xinying Center Fishing Port, Xinying Town, Lingao County, Hainan Province, densely packed red boat flags fluttered in the wind, and more than 1300 fishing boats were ready to set sail. At 12:00, the 2023 South China Sea summer fishing ban will end.
"After resting for over three months, everyone is eager to go out to sea." Fisherman Huang Guofan purchased new fishing nets and maintained the ship's machinery early, only waiting for the signal of the fishing ceremony on the 16th. "3, 2, 1! Fishing officially starts! Thousands of sails are racing!" Fishing boats docked outside the port are the first to set sail, and some boats are still setting off firecrackers at the bow to pray for safety and return with a full load.
On August 16th, fishing boats from Xinying Port in Lingao County, Hainan sailed towards the South China Sea. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Liyun
On the 15th, the reporter visited the fishing port and saw that before the start of fishing, fishermen were working hard to refuel, add water, add ice to the fishing boats, and prepare sufficient fresh meat and vegetables. Large bags of chicken, duck meat, fruits and vegetables are transported from the dock to fishing boats. The farmer's market, several hundred meters away from the fishing port, is crowded with people, and there are few boxes of beverages and water left in the supermarket. "Before fishing started, villagers from nearby villages came to the fishing port to do business, and there was a large supply of thousands of fishing boats," said Chen, a villager from Xinying Village in Xinying Town.
Zhang Cong, Deputy Director of the Agriculture and Rural Bureau of Lingao County, introduced that in order to ensure the smooth sailing of fishermen, the local government has upgraded and renovated the Xinying Center Fishing Port in recent years, standardizing the construction of equipment rooms, ship repair yards, gas stations, seafood processing plants, etc. At present, the ice factory and cold storage have been put into use, which can maintain sufficient ice sources and stable ice prices. The seafood trading stall and night food stall will officially open on the 17th, and the first batch of catches will be auctioned off.
A fishing ban is the only way to fill the cabin with fish. The off-season fishing ban system in the ocean is an important fishery resource protection system in China. The fishing ban period in the South China Sea in 2023 is from 12:00 on May 1st to 12:00 on August 16th, which is a critical period for the growth and reproduction of the main economic fish species in the South China Sea fishing grounds. During the fishing ban, all types of operations except for fishing gear, as well as fishing auxiliary vessels serving fishing vessels, are prohibited. The summer fishing ban system has played an important role in controlling the intensity of marine fishing, protecting marine fishery resources, and promoting sustainable development of fisheries.
It is reported that Lingao County in Hainan Province has a developed marine fishing industry, producing over 600 types of seafood such as mackerel, pomfret, squid, and shrimp. The annual production of the fishing industry reaches 400000 tons.