Fishing boats in Taizhou, a coastal city in Zhejiang province, set sail on Aug 1 as the three-month fishing moratorium comes into an end. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

A fleet of more than 3,000 fishing boats in Taizhou, a coastal city in Zhejiang province, set sail on Aug 1 as the three-month fishing moratorium in the East China Sea was partially lifted on the same day.

The fishing boats, which account for 80 percent of the city's total, upped anchors and set sail from places including Diaobang port in Wenling city, Jiantiao port in Sanmen county and Kanmen port in Yuhuan city.

These vessels will primarily harvest pomfret, mackerel, small yellow croaker, hairtail, shrimp and crab.

The first catches will be sold on the market within less than a week, with some caught by fishing boats near the shore made available as early as the evening of Aug 1.

The summer fishing ban, which was launched 28 years ago, is part of China's efforts to promote sustainable marine fishing and improve the marine environment.