A boat displays lights for fishing at night. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

Fishermen mend their fishing nets on the ship's deck. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

As the first fishing boat honked its whistle at around noon on Aug 16, more than 400 fishing boats in Sanya left Yazhou Central Fishing Port and went out to sea to fish.

Starting from May 1 this year, the South China Sea has entered a three-and-a-half-month summer fishing moratorium to conserve marine biological resources, promote the sustainable development of marine fisheries, and help the fishermen increase their production and income.

Chen Xiaoyun, a fisherman from Lingao county, could not conceal his excitement and expressed his hope to return with a rewarding catch.

The staff at the Sanya maritime safety administration, Sanya municipal bureau of agriculture and rural affairs, and the fishing port reminded fishermen to stay safe during their fishing trips.

According to an official at the Yazhou Central Fishing Port, the fishing port has received a total investment of about 3.5 billion yuan ($540 million) to build production support facilities, which can meet the mooring, trading, replenishment and sheltering needs for 800 fishing boats. The second phase includes a plan to build an ocean berth and several recreational fishery berths. After completion, the total length of the wharf will reach 1,360 meters, and the annual fishing port discharge capacity will reach 200,000 metric tons, making it the largest and first-class comprehensive modern fishing port in Hainan province.