The Shenzhen Maritime Affairs Bureau licensed 75 fishermen in the city's eastern coast to operate sightseeing boats after they completed a two-day training course arranged by the bureau.

The license will enable the fishermen to operate sightseeing boats for tour groups. With the fast exploitation of tourism in the city's eastern coastal area, there has been an increasing number of visitors to the coast. This opens up new and trendy fishing and sightseeing opportunities. However, the operators were unlicensed and their boats were not registered.

According to the maritime bureau, during the May Day holidays, it found more than 100 fishermen had illegally refitted their fishing boats to carry passengers and take on tour groups, which was considered dangerous for tourists. They also reequipped their fishing boats to take visitors around the eastern coastal district in violation of national maritime laws.

"Although fishermen gradually obtained licenses, there are few sightseeing boats with statutory seaworthy certificates and nationality certificates," said Huang Huaishen, director of the bureau's vessel inspection office.

To regulate the market, the bureau organized a training course for fishermen and implemented a series of measures forbidding illegal vessels from operating commercially. It also conducted a feasibility study to adjust the operating standards for wooden boats according to law.

"We are now seeking solutions to this problem and hope to promote tourism in the eastern area," said a bureau spokesman.

 (Shenzhen Daily July 9, 2004)