Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

The South China Sea is one of the five largest fishing areas in the world. According to 2015 statistics by the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, the area contains more than 20 kinds of rare and high-economic value fish. There's an estimated 1.8 million tons of resources in stock, and a total allowable catch of five to six hundred thousand tons per year. But in recent years, resources had a significant decline to 5 to 30 percent of the number in 1950.

Photo taken on July 17, 2016 shows a deepwater fish farming base near Meiji Reef of the Nansha Islands of China. Since fishery expert Lin Zailiang started a fish farm in Meiji Reef of South China Sea nine years ago, the deepwater fish farming cages have increased to 62 by now. Rare commercial fish cultured here are sold well both home and abroad. (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan)

Some international organizations have warned that maybe in another 30 years, the number of fish will possibly experience a slump of up to 59 percent. China has been implementing a summer fishing moratorium since 1999. This affected over nine thousand ships in 2015 alone.

The country has also been actively cooperating with other countries near the region by providing marine meteorological information to over six thousand vessels, and emergency rescue services that have saved more than thirty-four hundred fishermen.