Fresh seafood hits Xiamen markets after fishing ban lifted
A host of fresh seafood has hit Xiamen's seafood markets after the three-month summer fishing ban, which started on May 1, was lifted.
A fishing festival marking the end of the ban was held in Dongshan county – one of the major fishing grounds in Fujian Province, on August 1. About 1,078 fishing boats set sail from Xiamen port with high hopes for bountiful catches in the replenished seas.
After the ban lifting, local residents can now find more fresh seafood in local seafood markets. Prices on seafood are expected to drop by 10 percent within the week.
The seasonal fishing ban, in place since 1998, is considered crucial to sustain the sea areas' ecology and fishery resources.
The government provides training for the laid-off fishermen and encourages them to take temporary jobs in other industries.
People who violate the fishing ban are fined up to 50,000 yuan, and their catches and illegal earnings are confiscated.
Why Xiamen
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Xiamen is one of the most economically competitive cities in China and was one of the first Special Economic Zones on the Chinese mainland. As a vice-provincial city independently listed on the State development plan, it has provincial-level authority in economic administration and local legislative power. In 2010, the Xiamen SEZ was expanded to cover the entire municipality. Today, Xiamen is a modern and international port city.