"Set sail!" heralded the South China Sea fishing season at noon on August 16. After the three-and-a-half month moratorium, coastal Guangdong erupts in celebrations. Follow GO Guangdong’s ultimate guide to explore seafood haunts and summer festivals!
China’s seasonal fishing moratorium prohibits all fishing in designated waters during summer, the critical breeding and growth period for major marine species, which provides marine fish a sufficient period for breeding and growing. Implemented in the South China Sea since 1999, this system has been operated over 20 years. Strict enforcement in 2025 saw Guangdong's marine fish resources surge by 23% year-on-year, validating the policy's ecological success.
During fishing moratorium period, Guangdong leveraged fishing moratoriums to restore marine ecosystems through artificial reef deployment and stock enhancement initiative. In 2024, the province's marine aquaculture output hit 3.7683 million metric tons, a year-on-year 5.47% surge, with farmed marine fish production reaching 975,400 tons, accounting for nearly half of China’s total.
Hailing Island, Yangjiang City
Launched in July 2003, the South China Sea (Yangjiang) Fishing Season has a history of 22 years, making it a significant festive event in Guangdong Province. In 2025, it will be held from August 15 to 17 on Hailing Island.
the 23rd South China Sea (Yangjiang) Fishing Season (Photo by Yangjiang Daily, Liang Wendong)
This year's grand opening features a record 3,400 fishing ships departing toward the fishing grounds. The event invites travelers to witness ancient sea worship ceremonies showcasing ocean reverence, while vibrant fishermen's wedding processions spotlight intangible cultural traditions.
Location: Hailing Island, No. 38 Haibin Road, Zhabei Town, Jiangcheng District, Yangjiang City
Highlights: fishing season opening ceremony, sea worship ceremony, fishermen's wedding ceremony, beach music festival, international model competition, luminous kite carnival, coastal photography competition,and Dajiao Bay fireworks show.
fisherman sharing the joy of harvest
Hengmen Fishing Port, Zhongshan City
Hengmen, one of the Pearl River’s eight major estuaries, sustains rich biodiversity through its mangroves and brackish confluence, yielding high-quality seafood,notably the renowned Hengmen crabs. This year, the fishing season opening ceremony will be held on August 16, with festival stalls operating through August 18.
Location: Hengmen Fishing Port, Nanlang Town, Zhongshan City
Highlights:
August 15: fisher-folk (Danjia) water sports festival, fisher-folk (Danjia) arts performance, summer concert evening (Cantonese), and food market.
August 16: lion dancing parade, fishing lantern parade, fishing season opening ceremony, crab-tying competition, fishing season opening banquet, and food market.
August 17: history and culture of fisher-folk (Danjia) panel discussion, summer concert evening (Mandarin), and food market.
August 18: band performance and food market.
fisher-folk (Danjia) water sports festival
Jianghong Fishing Port, Zhanjiang City
Located in the western Suixi County, Zhanjiang City. Jianghong Fishing Port gainednational designation as a marine fishery landing hub in September 2020.Its Tian’guang Fish Market operates daily from 5 AM to 8 AM. The surrounding waters boasts high-quality seafood including red snapper, eel, mackerel, and prawns. Local industries leverage traditional dried-fish processing, anchoring a robust "harvest-process-sell" supply chain.
Location: Jianghong Fishing Port, approximately 260 meters north of the Lianjiang Road and Haibin Road intersection, Suixi County, Zhanjiang City
Highlights:
August 15: beach music evening
August 16: fishing season opening ceremony, fishing industry exhibition, Jianghong tick-off tour, beach soccer, beach music evening, fish market and food street.
August 17: fishing fun parenting activity, fish market and food street.
fishing season opening ceremony (Photo by 湛江发布)
Bohe Fishing Port, Maoming City
Bohe Fishing Port is one of China's top ten fishing ports, renowned as the "Thousand-Year Fishing Port and the World's Fish Warehouse". In 2023, the coastal fishing port economic zone centered on Bohe Fishing Port was selected as one of China's top ten pilot zones, marking a new chapter in Maoming's marine economy. After the three-and-a-half-month fishing moratorium, seafood become more abundant and fresher. Among them, the local specialty brand "Mao Ba Xian" seafood is a popular choice.
Location: Bohe Fishing Port, Changdi Road, Bohe Town, Dianbai District, Maoming City
Highlights: a three-day, two-night fishing season kick-off route, covering sea worship ceremony, fishing season opening banquet, fishing season opening ceremony, first catch auction, fishing song festival, beer music festival, and beach party, etc.
fishing season opening banquet (Photo by Maoming CYL)
Guanghai Seafood Trading Center, Jiangmen City
Guanghai Seafood Trading Center, located in Guanghai Fishing Port, was upgraded and renovated in 2024, covering approximately 40,000 square meters. It features multiple functional zones, which sell fresh aquatic products, dried seafood and souvenirs, and provide leisure dining and shopping. During the fishing season, it will offer tourists a multi-faceted experience of fresh seafood, culture, and entertainment.
Location: Guanghai Seafood Trading Center, No.2 Haibin Nan Road, Guanghai Town, Taishan City, Jiangmen City
Highlights: fishing season opening ceremony, sea laser light show, Yingge Dance, Guanghai fishing song performance, outdoor beach music festival,and beer competition.
Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 10:30 PM, August 16–25
Guanghai Seafood Trading Center (Photo by Taishan Media)
Baitengtou Seafood Wholesale Market, Zhuhai City
Zhuhai's month-long Seafood Festival returns this fishing season, featuring premium classics (shrimp, crab, conch, scallops) alongside rare deep-sea catches like Scatophagus argus (spotted scat) and stonefish. The city's culinary gem, Baotengtou Seafood Market, established in 1990 and fully revamped last year,anchors the event with its vast selection, transparent pricing, and competitive wholesale rates, drawing both locals and tourists alike.
Location: Baotengtou Seafood Wholesale Market, No. 19 Tenghu Street, Doumen District, Zhuhai City
Highlights: fishing season banquet
Date: August 17 to September 17
fishing season opening banquet (Photo by Zhuhai Special Zone Daily)
Haimen Fishing Port, Shantou City
Haimen Fishing Port is located in Haimen Town, Chaoyang District, Shantou City. It is named after the mouth of the Lianjiang River, which resembles a gate shape, and is one of the "National Model Fishing Ports". During the Ming Dynasty, troops with over a thousand soldiers were stationed here to resist pirates. During the Qing Dynasty, it developed into a vital coastal defense stronghold in eastern Guangdong, later transitioned into a civilian port. During the Qianlong era, it leveraged the Maritime Silk Road to engage in ceramic and tea trade. The fishing port complements tourist attractions such as the National Windsurfing Training Center and Qingbo Tower, with the nearby National 4A-level Lianhua Mountain Scenic Area. In 2019, it was listed as one of the "Top Ten Most Beautiful Fishing Ports in Guangdong".
Accordingly, the first batch of fish after the opening ceremony will mainly consist of nearshore species such as Decapterus maruadsi, sardine, pomfret, and ribbon fish.
Location: Haimen Fishing Port, Huanhai Road, Haimen Town, Chaoyang District, Shantou City
Haimen Fishing Port
Sanbaimen Fishing Port, Chaozhou City
Sanbaimen Port springs to life annually as the summer fishing ban ends. Fishermen conduct final checks on gear before hundreds of vessels surge toward South China Sea fishing grounds at the departure signal. Voyages span days to a month, with tea sets packed as essential companions,transforming idle sea hours into meditative rituals steeped in centuries-old seafaring heritage.
Location: Sanbaimen Fishing Port, along Provincial Highway 222, Haishan Town, Raoping County, Chaozhou City
Highlights: fishing season opening ceremony
fisherman sharing the joy of harvest
Shenquan Fishing Port, Jieyang City
Shenquan Fishing Port, a historic foreign-trade hub in southern Huilai County, anchors eastern Guangdong’s largest natural harbor with fishing vessels exceeding 600. This maritime gateway thrives within Huilai’s 115.45-km coastline and 1,328.6-km² waters, yielding premium catches like white pomfret, mackerel, yellow croaker, squid, shrimp, and crab. Predawn voyages ensure seafood reaches tables at peak freshness, often within hours of landing. On opening day, the port’s Mazu Temple resounds with prayers,families burn incense and offer tributes, seeking the sea goddess’s protection for their fisherfolk’s safety and bounty.
Location: Shenquan Fishing Port, County Road 149, Huilai County, Jieyang City
Highlights: fishing season opening ceremony
fishing season opening ceremony
Reporters: Zhou Jiyin, Yin Juewen
Poster: Yang Chenyue