China Marine Fisheries Museum

China Marine Fisheries Museum

The China Marine Fisheries Museum serves as a patriotic education base.

The "China Marine Fisheries Museum" is based on the maritime fisheries culture thematic collection exhibited at the Zhoushan Municipal Private Museum — the "Daishan Haishu Variety Collection Museum," founded in July 1998 with approval from the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau by local fisherman Mr. Zhao Xingfa from Zhoushan’s Daishan Gaoting Zhakou Yicun Village. It was established in 2004 under the direct guidance and planning of the CPC Daishan County Committee and County Government, who aimed to develop a series of museums themed around marine culture, with the Dongsha Town People's Government serving as the specific implementing entity.

The museum is located at No. 203 Jiefang Road, Dongsha Ancient Town — once the hometown of large yellow croaker — and occupies a two-story, quadrangle-style wooden building constructed in the early Republican era. Covering an area of 900 square meters with a built-up area of 1,200 square meters, the structure is simple yet elegant. Its establishment filled a void in China’s thematic museums dedicated to the history of marine fisheries culture.

The exhibits are primarily based on nearly 30 years of collection by Mr. Zhao Xingfa, featuring physical objects and historical materials related to Zhoushan’s fishing culture. The first phase showcases nearly 1,000 items including various boat tools and models, fishing nets, daily utensils, fishermen’s clothing, fishing navigation aids, and fisher paintings, dating from the Qing Dynasty’s Daoguang era to the present. These are accompanied by photos and textual descriptions, presenting not only an evolutionary history of marine culture but also a vivid and living account of modern fisheries development. The exhibition has been well-received by audiences, achieving positive social and economic impacts, and revitalizing Dongsha Ancient Town, which had been in decline and overlooked for half a century.

In January 2005, over 2 million yuan was raised for the second phase of construction, adding a new 1,000-square-meter exhibition hall. The second-phase display was completed and opened to the public on July 1 with a fresh new look. It features four major thematic displays: marine resources, marine fishing, shellfish exposition, and old production relations and fishermen’s life customs, comprising a total of more than 1,600 exhibits.

The first section on marine resources is divided into three parts: "The Ocean as the Cradle of Life," "The Rich Zhoushan Fishing Grounds," and "Zhoushan Seafood Renowned Worldwide." In "The Ocean as the Cradle of Life," the exhibit displays colorful and diverse fish specimens, including large species such as the Chinese sturgeon, swordfish, mackerel, sunfish, and bull sharks. There are also marine mammal specimens: seals, sea lions, dolphins, turtles, and hawksbills. Additionally, large marine mammal bones are shown, such as whale jawbones, whale skulls, shark vertebrae, dolphin skulls, along with shellfish, algae, and coral specimens. This section illustrates that the ocean covers 71% of the Earth’s surface and is home to a vast array of marine flora and fauna — from microscopic organisms invisible to the naked eye to the massive 30-meter-long, 60-ton blue whale. While the ocean provides humans with abundant food and industrial resources, these are not inexhaustible. Due to unlimited fishing and pollution, many marine species have suffered greatly. Thus, protecting marine resources and maintaining ecological balance has become an urgent historical mission. In "The Rich Zhoushan Fishing Grounds," various preserved fish and crustacean specimens caught in the Zhoushan Fishing Grounds are displayed, showcasing the area’s abundant fisheries resources. As the largest nearshore fishing ground in China, it is renowned alongside Russia’s Kuril Fishing Grounds, Canada’s Newfoundland Fishing Grounds, and Peru’s Peruvian Fishing Grounds — with Zhoushan being particularly famous. Historically, it was known for its four major fishing seasons: spring for small yellow croaker, summer for large yellow croaker, autumn for squid, and winter for hairtail, celebrated both domestically and abroad.

The second section on marine fishing is divided into four parts: "Fishing Tools – Boats and Nets," "Fishing Ports," "Fishing Methods," and "Resource Protection and Safe Production." In "Fishing Tools – Boats and Nets," in addition to displaying key tools of wooden sailboats such as anchors, rudders, oars, signal lamps, and foreign lamps, as well as tools for trawling boats like rollers, it also features components of motor sailboats such as steering wheels, propellers, net haulers, clutches, and advanced fishing navigation equipment: fish finders, radios, radar, etc. The section prominently displays various types of wooden sailboats and generations of motorized fishing vessels — from the first-generation motor sailboat to the second-generation improved version, third-generation export vessel, fourth-generation large motor vessel, and fifth-generation large offshore motor fishing boat — illustrating the full evolution from wooden sailboats to motor sailboats after the liberation. The wooden sailboats of the past have now been replaced by large steel motor fishing vessels, which continue to develop toward modern steel fishing ships. Their fishing grounds have expanded from nearby coastal areas to offshore zones, with some even venturing abroad to participate in international fisheries competition. In "Fishing Ports," various models of fishing boats are displayed, including historic wooden sailboats such as the dui boat, bei boat, and trawler, as well as modern motor fishing vessels like the motor dui boat, motor tugboat, motor trawler, sail set-net boat, and crab pot boat. There are also vessels from coastal regions across China, such as Guangdong boats, Fujian boats, and sha fei boats, presenting a dazzling array. The appearance of fishing ports — serving as anchorages, shelters, distribution hubs for fish catch, and supply centers for production and daily necessities — has also been completely renewed. In "Fishing Methods," models of fishing boats and nets are combined to recreate several main fishing methods in the Zhoushan Fishing Grounds: pair trawling, set netting, large-scale fishing, trawling, drift netting, longline fishing, and light purse seining. These are vividly presented to the audience, sparking great interest. In "Resource Protection and Safe Production," regulations on fishing moratoriums, uniforms and credentials issued by fisheries authorities, and banned devices such as electric pulse shrimp scare devices are displayed. These highlight the growing awareness among fishermen regarding the protection of fisheries resources and safe production, as well as their cooperation with fisheries authorities in implementing government policies, laws, and regulations to ensure the sustainable development of the fishing industry.

The third section, the Shellfish Exposition, is divided into two parts: shellfish knowledge and shellfish specimens gifted by Masato Kanzaki, President of Japan’s Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The first part displays representative shells and shellcraft, covering three aspects: shellfish life and habits, shell characteristics and classification, and shell value and utilization, providing a systematic introduction to shellfish knowledge. The second part exhibits 1,199 pieces of 763 varieties of shellfish specimens donated by Japan. These specimens are comprehensive in variety, uniquely shaped, with clear textures and bright luster, offering strong visual appeal and leaving visitors amazed.

The fourth section on old production relations and fishermen’s life presents unique customs and traditions. Through the use of human sculptures and real-life dioramas, it depicts how fish merchants in the late Qing and early Republican periods intervened in fishing production by acting as "fishing order lenders," forming a special production relationship with fishermen to gain rights to trade in fish catch. They also “lent their licenses” to ice boats to purchase fish at sea, collecting commissions of 8–10% from the ice boats, resulting in most fishermen’s income going to the pockets of fish merchants and ice boat owners. Fishermen’s lives grew increasingly impoverished, with most relying on selling their labor to survive. Furniture, household items, clothing, housing, and other elements illustrate the wealth of fish merchants versus the poverty of fishermen. Relief carvings combined with real scenes depict unique fishermen customs such as weddings, birthdays, births, funerals, and shipbuilding, reflecting both their aspirations for a better life and the harsh realities of their existence.

The second-phase exhibits are rich in content and systematic in organization, with diverse and vivid presentation formats that are highly readable and visually engaging, offering strong appeal and proving very popular with visitors.

Detailed Address: No. 203 Jiefang Road, Dongsha Town, Daishan County, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province

Email: Yuyebowuguan＠163.com Website (webpage)

Travel Guide

(Including museum opening hours, visiting procedures, and transportation routes)

Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM;

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM;

For special circumstances requiring early or delayed visits, please contact in advance.