In Guinea-Bissau, on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, seven fishing vessels, including the Yuanyu 884, set sail from the port while officials from the China National Fisheries Corporation (CNFC) adjust equipment.

Qi Lianghua, the ship's captain, is 54 and has been working in Guinea-Bissau for 28 years. He said there are 101 Chinese and 127 foreigners on this voyage, which will last 11 months. “The crew eat fish all the time when they're on board, and there's a cheer on board every time a supply ship brings fresh vegetables.”

Guinea-Bissau has one of the most important fishing areas in the Atlantic Ocean, with a marine exclusive economic zone of around 70,000 square kilometers, rich in seafood such as fish, shrimp, lobster, crabs and molluscs, with an annual catch of 300,000 to 350,000 tons.

In August 1984, the Chinese government signed a fisheries cooperation agreement with the government of Guinea-Bissau, and the first batch of the deep-sea fishing fleet sent by the CNFC arrived in Guinea-Bissau in May 1985.

(Source: Xinhua Portuguese, on March 11)