China's fishery research ship explores Nansha islands

China's Fishery Research ship "Nanfeng" has arrived near the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea to undertake scientific research. Nanfeng is China's first self-designed and self-developed such vessel, dedicated to research in fishery resources and environmental science.

It also aims to safeguard the rights and interests of marine fisheries in the South China Sea. The ship is about 1,500 gross tons - the biggest fishery research ship in Asia.

Nansha Islands and their surrounding waters cover an area of 820 thousand square kilometers. Fishery resources there are estimated at around 1.8 million tons, with a total allowable catch of 500,000 tons a year.