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A fish release event is held in Rudong county, Nantong. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

A giant fish release festival was held on June 26 at the Yangguang Island Heavy Cargo Terminal – at Yangkou Port in Rudong county, administered by Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province – when about 5.25 million young fish were freed into the sea.

Rudong has been holding the fish release festival for 13 consecutive years since 2009 and has released more than 100 million juvenile fish of various species.

This reportedly plays an important role in the conservation of local marine fishery resources and the sustainable development of the fisheries economy.

Rudong strictly implements a summer fishing moratorium system and cracks down on illegal fishing activities, in order to provide a recuperative environment for marine life. It also advocates the use of social funds for the proliferation and release of the fish.

So far, more than 60 sea-related enterprises have responded and the total ecological restoration funds have reached 200 million yuan ($30.98 million).

"Proliferation and release will benefit present and future generations. While exploiting the ocean, we must treat it well and aim to achieve a balanced coexistence between humanity and the ocean and promote the coordinated development of the economy and the environment," said Shen Junfeng, Party secretary of Rudong county at the event.

The proliferation and release program has reportedly achieved obvious ecological and economic benefits.

In recent years, the fishery resources in Rudong have maintained a balanced and stable development trend. In 2020, the size of the seafood harvest in Rudong reached 309,000 tons and the total output value increased to 17.5 billion yuan.