In 2025, as the fishing moratorium comes to an end, coastal regions across China are embracing the grand spectacle of the fishing season opening. On August 5, the East China Sea took the lead in launching the "preliminary fishing season". Thousands of fishing vessels, escorted by formation of maritime and fishery patrol boats, set sail from fishing ports in Nantong, Lianyungang, Zhoushan, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Ningde and other places towards the fishing grounds.

For this "preliminary fishing season", four types of fishing vessels (including gillnet, light surrounding/covering net, pot and pole-and-line shrimp fishing vessels) are permitted to operate. With special fishing permits, they can catch shrimps, crabs and pelagic fish.

At 12:00 onAugust 16, the summer fishing moratorium in the South China Sea concluded. Thousands of fishing vessels from Hainan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and other regions set sail from local fishing ports. A thousand fishing vessels in Tanmen Central Fishing Port of Qionghai, Hainan, were ready to depart; over 3,400 fishing vessels in Yangjiang, Guangdong, headed for the open sea upon the fishing season opening order; and in Fangchenggang, Beihai, Qinzhou and other cities in Guangxi, opening ceremonies were held, with more than 7,000 fishing vessels sailing into the South China Sea. Meanwhile, various localities launched intangible cultural heritage performances and other activities in combination with fishing port culture, promoting the integration of fishery and cultural tourism.

Next, at 12:00 on September 1, some fishing vessels in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea will also end the moratorium and go out to fish. At 12:00 on September 16, the East China Sea will fully open its fishing season. The entire "fishing season" runs from August to September, with over 100,000 marine fishing vessels going out to fish in batches.

According to estimates from relevant authorities, the catch volume of this year's fishing season is expected to increase due to the effective implementation of the fishing moratorium, providing a more sufficient seafood supply for the market.