GUANGZHOU - China's fishery authority said Sunday that this year's regular fishery patrols in the South China Sea have been launched to ensure the safety and legitimate interests of Chinese fishermen.

By Sunday, 21 medium and large patrol ships and over 3,000 personnel had been dispatched to missions in key fishery areas, according to Liu Guimao, a senior official with the South China Sea Fishery Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture.

China's fishery administration ships are currently patrolling waters off the Huangyan Islands, Meiji Reef, Nansha Islands, Xisha Islands and the Beibu Gulf, said Liu.

Liu said the patrols are expected to last for weeks, without giving an exact timeline.