A fleet of 30 fishing vessels left south China's Hainan Province on Thursday for the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.
The fleet, departing from the city of Sanya, will spend 20 days fishing near the Yongshu Reef, sailors of the fleet said.
Among the fleet are a 3,000-tonne replenishment ship and 29 ships weighing in at more than 140 tonnes, making the fishing fleet one of the largest in the province's history.
China's fishery administration authorities and other relevant departments are prepared to assist in the voyage, the sailors said.