Fishing boats set sail, heading out to sea.

Pingtan, a coastal gem off Fujian Province and the mainland's closest point to the island of Taiwan, is not only a hub for cross-Straits integration but also China's second international tourism island, following Hainan. Its waters, rich in marine life, have long sustained local fishing communities and drawn seafood lovers.

Laden with the day's catch, the boats glide into the harbor, ready to unload.

On August 16, 2025, the months-long summer fishing moratorium in Pingtan came to an end, and 269 fishing boats set sail, marking the start of a new fishing season. Just two days later, in the early hours of August 18, the first batch of inshore fishing boats returned, bringing in the season's first fresh catch.

Fishermen weigh their fresh haul, smiles hinting at a successful trip.

The Dong'ao Fisherman's Wharf buzzed with activity from dawn till dusk. Fishermen worked swiftly, sorting and loading their hauls onto trucks. Seafood wholesalers, prepared with ice and insulated containers, waited eagerly to take the catch. Local residents and tourists also flocked to the wharf, hoping to get their hands on the "first taste of freshness" from the sea. 

At Pingtan Chengguan Seafood Market, vendors skillfully sort and pack hairtail, prepping them for eager buyers.

By 7 a.m. on August 18, Pingtan's seafood markets were already a hive of activity. Baskets of sorted seafood lined the stalls, showcasing a variety of treasures from the sea. There were slender and silvery hairtail, small and shiny mackerel pike, crabs waving their large pincers, and lively and translucent shrimp. 

A tourist grins, admiring the plump, just-purchased crab—still brimming with the ocean's vitality.

"I've been up since early morning to get these sorted and ready for sale," said Chen Liping, a fisherman busy attending to customers. Nearby, Lin Yuebin, a local resident, was among those stocking up. "It's always exciting to get fresh seafood right after the fishing season starts. I'm buying a bunch to share with family," Lin said, holding several bags of seafood.

Most of the returning boats so far are small inshore fishing vessels. Larger boats engaged in offshore fishing are expected to return in the coming days.