Fishing season kicks off at Yangjiang port in Guangdong

Thousands of fishing boats set sail and observe the traditional sea blessing rituals in Yangjiang, Guangdong, as the fishing season kicks off in the South China Sea.

The spectacle attracts tourists from near and far. But some fishermen say frequent typhoons in recent years have slashed marine harvests by nearly half compared to before.

The fishing season opened to a chorus of ship horns at 12pm.

A lineup of 3,400 vessels headed out in unison at Yangjiang's Zhapo Fishing Port, ending the summer fishing moratorium in the South China Sea.

The time-honoured sea-sacrifice ceremony, a local tradition with a history spanning more than a thousand years, took place earlier to pray for calm seas and gentle winds.

Chants of sacrificial texts echoed with the playing of ancient music. Crowds aligned in procession to worship and offer incense and wine to Goddess Matsu as a show of awe and gratitude to the sea.

Given that spring and summer are the spawning period for various marine species, the Agricultural Ministry enforces an annual seasonal fishing ban lasting three and a half months to facilitate the creatures' conservation and regeneration.

Some of the fishermen have taken advantage of the downtime to replenish provisions and overhaul fishing nets as well as other work tools, whereas the increasing frequency and intensity of typhoons significantly cut down on their trips, resulting in a decline in fish catch.

A local fisherman surnamed Lin raised concerns that due to the weather and air currents, fish are steering clear of the Guangdong region, adding he expects to catch tens of thousands of jin of seafood including squid, beltfish, sardines and triggerfish.

A number of residents and tourists travelled specifically to the port to witness the spectacle of the entire fleet setting out to sea.

Among them, Ms. Lin from Jiangmen City said she watched the sight at home last year and watching it live at the scene this year was mind-blowing.

Another Yangjiang resident Miss Yang hailed the magnificence of the event, saying promoting traditions like this could offer a deeply authentic look into ancestral fishing.