China sends fishing fleet to the Spratlys

Thirty Chinese fishing vessels on Monday set off from a harbor in the China's southernmost province of Hainan for the Spratly Islands in the East Vietnam Sea, VnExpress reported on May 6th.

A fishing fleet is about set sail for Spratly Islands at the Baimajing Harbor in Danzhou City, south China's Hainan Province, May 6, 2013. Thirty Chinese fishing vessels on Monday set off for the Spratly Islands in the East Vietnam Sea. The fishing ships, each with a capacity exceeding 100 tonnes, will stay around the Islands for 40 days. (Xinhua/Wang Fuchun)

The fishing ships, each with a capacity exceeding 100 tonnes, will stay around the Spratly Islands for 40 days. The vessels, equipped with all-weather communication devices, will be under unified command.

A supply ship (4000 tonnes) and transport vessel (1500 tonnes) will be accompanying the fishing fleet.

"We are exploring ways to exploit high-seas resources in systematic manners," said Huang Wenhui, who heads the fishing office in the Department of Ocean and Fisheries of Hainan Province.

Thirty fishing vessels were sent to the islands in July last year.

"The ultimate goal of the operation is to develop a business model that allows fishermen to catch fish around the Nansha Islands on a regular basis", Huang added.