Island in E China's Zhejiang turns fading fishing trade into thriving tourism draw

An aerial view shows the fishing ground off Shengshan Island in Shengsi county, Zhoushan city, east China's Zhejiang Province. The fishing ground was once one of China's largest traditional fishing areas. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Liwei)

Shengshan Island — part of Shengshan township, Shengsi county, in Zhoushan city, east China's Zhejiang Province — has transformed from a fishing community into a marine leisure tourism destination, opening new paths to livelihoods and growth.

As fishery resources in nearby waters declined, many local fishers on the 4.12-square-kilometer island have turned to the emerging sport fishing industry in recent years.

What began as small-scale, individual operations has since evolved into a regulated industry, with all fishing vessels brought under unified management to improve safety and protect marine resources.

The township government introduced regulations setting clear rules on permitted fishing areas, operating hours and weather conditions, ensuring the sustainable and healthy development of the sport fishing industry.

Calling the lack of order among speedboat operators a "growing pain" in the island's transition, Zhang Chao, mayor of Shengshan township, said bringing them under a unified regulatory framework is aimed at setting standards for the emerging industry and securing its long-term growth.

"All vessels are equipped with positioning systems, allowing their routes to be tracked throughout the entire journey," said Tong Yanna, a staff member at the control room, where a digital management platform helps track boats.

"Once a vessel enters a no-fishing zone, an alert is immediately triggered on the monitoring platform," Tong said.

Fishing trips are only allowed between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m., and all fishing operations are suspended under adverse sea conditions such as winds of force 8 or above and heavy fog, according to Lyu Jianming, an executive at a local aquaculture company.

"Weather alerts are promptly shared in the chat group for boat operators every day," Tong said.

A fishing enthusiast known as Ajun displays a fish he has caught on Shengshan Island in Shengsi county, Zhoushan city, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

As governance has improved, Shengshan Island has also built up a marine tourism ecosystem centered on sea fishing.

Wang Lidong, a fishing enthusiast from Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, decided to stay and start a business on the island after experiencing a successful catch in October 2021.

Since 2022, he has worked closely with local boat operators to open a sport fishing-themed B&B, a fishing gear store and a sport fishing club.

"We have created a collaborative model in which customers are shared rather than diverted. The B&B, fishing gear store and boats operated by local boat operators are integrated, with revenue shared based on total sales," Wang said, adding that combined daily revenue can reach up to 50,000 yuan ($7,350) when business is strong.

"There is hardly an off-season. As long as the weather is favorable, my B&B maintains good occupancy rates," Wang said, highlighting Shengshan's rich sport fishing resources.

Different species can be caught in different seasons, including wild large yellow croaker, sea bass, yellowfin seabream, as well as greater amberjack, Spanish mackerel and hairtail, according to Wang.

To visitors, the appeal of Shengshan lies not only in its catch, but in the experience itself.

Jiang Bin, executive of a local aquaculture company in Shengshan township, Shengsi county, Zhoushan city, east China's Zhejiang Province, checks salted dried fish inventory. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Liwei)

"You never come back empty-handed from a fishing trip here," said a fishing enthusiast known as Ajun. "With a fishing rod in hand, you can sit on the rocks and take in the sea view. It's a great way to unwind."

The man runs a restaurant in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. He has been visiting Shengshan several times a year since his first sea fishing experience here in 2020.

"The appeal of sport fishing lies not in how many fish you catch, but in the experience itself and the sense of fulfillment it brings," said a B&B owner.

Sport fishing is also supporting rural revitalization efforts in Shengshan.

A company established last September by the village collective of Chenqianshan village in Shengshan township is capitalizing on the growing popularity of sport fishing to upgrade local seafood processing and branding. It is turning dried fish and other marine products into packaged goods sold through unified distribution channels.

The company has also prioritized hiring low-income residents for sorting and packaging jobs, enabling them to earn a relatively high hourly wage of 40 to 50 yuan close to home.

At a newly established international sea fishing base on the island, authorities are further upgrading speedboat services for sport fishing. All speedboats are now required to carry safety personnel and fishing guides and provide adequate insurance coverage, according to Zhu Wei, deputy general manager of a local sport fishing service provider.

Last year, the international sea fishing base played host to a national-level sport fishing competition, attracting more than 100 fishing enthusiasts from across China, Zhu said, noting that the event has further boosted Shengshan's popularity.