New fishing season kicks off in Zhuhai with seafood festival
On Sunday, following the end of the annual fishing moratorium, a new fishing season began. Fishing fleets set sail from Zhuhai in Guangdong Province, southern China, while a grand seafood festival attracted tourists from across China, including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, all eager to taste the freshest catches of the year.
Since ancient times, the sea has sustained coastal communities, and the return of fishermen after a long pause has always been a celebration of labour, tradition and hope. Today, this ritual has also become a vibrant tourist attraction, reminding us that caring for marine resources and enjoying their bounty go hand in hand.
More than 100 fishing vessels departed in an orderly manner from the Hongwan Central Fishing Port after the summer fishing ban in the South China Sea was lifted. Before departure, fishermen completed ice replenishment, net repairs and refuelling. The fisheries administration and maritime authorities carried out safety inspections, while border inspection services streamlined customs procedures to ensure smooth passage for fishing vessels between Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong.
On the same day, a seafood festival was held, drawing large numbers of visitors who came specifically to sample fresh seafood.
“My relatives settled here and brought me along. The weather is hot, but the atmosphere is even hotter!” one guest exclaimed.
“The atmosphere here is fantastic,” said a tourist from Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province in central China, which borders Guangdong. “Many people come from Hong Kong and Macao – I could tell because the car park was completely full,” noted a visitor from Macao.
According to statistics, this year’s fishing ban affected 927 fishing vessels registered in Zhuhai and 569 mobile fishing vessels operating between Hong Kong and Macao. By 16 August, nearly 1,000 vessels had set sail from Zhuhai, marking the start of the new fishing season.
The annual seasonal ban, in effect from 1 May to 16 August, is designed to protect fish stocks by restricting commercial fishing in certain waters of the South China Sea. This practice has helped maintain ecosystem sustainability and ensures abundant catches during the open season.
As CCTV+ reports, the season’s start in Zhuhai was not only an industrial milestone but also a vibrant cultural and gastronomic celebration, strengthening ties between regions. In the coming weeks, fresh fish and seafood are expected to flow steadily to both the domestic market and Hong Kong and Macao.
