The East China Sea fishing ban ended Sept. 16, 2025, allowing 4,000+ vessels to resume fishing after 4.5 months to protect fish stocks.

The summer fishing moratorium in the East China Sea ended on September 16, 2025, allowing over 4,000 vessels to resume fishing after a four-and-a-half-month ban aimed at restoring fish stocks and supporting sustainable development. To ensure safety, maritime authorities from Zhejiang, Shanghai, Fujian, and Jiangsu deployed 81 patrol boats, 38 aircraft, and more than 700 law enforcement officers to monitor key shipping routes and high-traffic zones. A partial lift on August 5 allowed special licensed vessels to fish earlier. After the full resumption, vessels are expected to catch species like ribbonfish, small yellow croaker, and squid.