Fishermen unload and trade freshly caught seafood at Xiangzhi National Central Fishing Port, Shishi City, on August 19. (Photo by Zhang Jiuqiang)

　　Waitstaff in traditional Xunpu attire serve guests during the Xunpu Fresh Crab and Beer Festival at Fengze Fishermen's Wharf. (Photo by Lin Jinfeng)

　　Contestants compete in the Minnan "Fist King" Challenge during the Xiangzhi Fishing Season Cultural Event in Shishi. (Photo by Lin Jinfeng)

　　As the fishing season opens, a tide of fresh catches is flowing ashore. According to the Shishi Bureau of Ocean Development, in just ten days since August 16, over 25,000 tons of seafood have been landed at Xiangzhi National Central Fishing Port—the largest in Fujian Province. Including other ports across Quanzhou, the total has exceeded 50,000 tons, and with more deep-sea vessels returning, both supply and excitement are surging. This seafood bonanza is spreading from wholesale and wet markets to tourism and dining venues, sparking a new wave of coastal consumption.

　　Markets Buzz with "Freshness Fever"

　　From midnight through midday, Xiangzhi's seafood market thrums with energy—crates of live crabs and fish hauled ashore, merchants haggling, digital scales beeping. "Pomfret and red bigeye are coming in fast—prices are down by half since the ban lifted," said Mr. Chen, a veteran wholesaler. Similar scenes unfold downtown, where shoppers crowd seafood stalls. "Everything's so fresh and affordable now!" one customer said, beaming over her purchases.

　　To let more residents "taste the freshness," local markets launched discounts. At Dongjie Market, customers spending ￥88 or more can receive up to ￥58 off through a program led by the Quanzhou Commerce Bureau and partners. The combination of abundant supply and price incentives has driven daily seafood sales sharply higher.

　　From Dock to Dining Table: New Coastal Experiences

　　Quanzhou's coastal districts are turning the fishing season into a citywide celebration. At Xunpu Fishermen's Wharf, the "Fresh Crab and Beer Festival" draws thousands nightly. Visitors select live seafood straight from foam boxes, hand it to nearby stalls for steaming or poaching—"from ship to plate within 100 meters," said one organizer. "It's the pure taste of the sea."

　　In Xiangzhi Town, the scent of grilled squid and steamed crab mingles with cheers from the Minnan Fist Challenge arena. "Business has doubled since the fishing season began," said Mr. Cai, a seafood stall owner. "Locals and tourists alike—everyone's here for the freshness."

　　Earlier, Hui'an's Thousand-Person Seafood Banquet and Nan'an's Kaixia Fishing Tourism Festival had already set the tone, blending ritual and recreation from oyster harvest ceremonies to sea-view dining and tide-watching.

　　So far, fishing season festivities have attracted tens of thousands of visitors, driving growth in dining, lodging, and retail. As the saying goes, "Fish bring flavor, and flavor drives prosperity." The momentum of "consumption through fishing, tourism through dining" continues to rise along Quanzhou's vibrant coast.