HANGZHOU -- More than 4,000 vessels set sail on Tuesday for the East China Sea, as a four-and-a-half-month summer fishing moratorium came to an end, according to the maritime authorities in eastern China provinces.

The maritime affairs departments in Zhejiang, Shanghai, Fujian and Jiangsu have carried out operations to ensure the safety of fishing activities at sea.

In such efforts, 81 patrol boats, 38 aircraft and over 700 law enforcement officers have been dispatched patrolling key shipping routes and areas where commercial and fishing vessels converge.

The maritime and fishery departments also joined forces to monitor round-the-clock the waters prone to accidents.

The summer fishing moratorium is aimed to restore stocks and ensure sustainable development. On Aug 5, the ban in the East China Sea was partially lifted allowing special licensed fishing vessels such as trawlers and cage fishing boats to set out to sea.

After the full resumption of fishing, fishing vessels are expected to haul aquatics such as ribbonfish, small yellow croaker, and squid.