A Chinese fishing boat fishes under the escort of Chinese fishery administration vessels, Yuzheng 310, in waters off the Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea on July 15. A Chinese fleet comprised of 30 fishing boats departed from Sanya port of South China's Hainan province on July 12. After sailing for more than 70 hours around the clock, they arrived at the destination at 3:56 pm Sunday. They are expected to stay for five to ten days for fishing.[Photo/Xinhua]

Fishing vessels from China's island province of Hainan are in waters off the Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea on July 15. [Photo/Xinhua]

ABOARD FISHING VESSEL QIONGSANYA F8168 - A fleet of 30 fishing vessels from China's island province of Hainan arrived at a fishing venue of Nansha Islands in the southern-most of China's territory Sunday.

The fleet, the largest of its kind from Hainan for the Nansha Islands, arrived at the waters near the Yongshu Reef in South China Sea at about 5 pm Sunday after a 78-hour voyage.

The fleet, including a 3,000-ton supply ship and 29 ships weighing more than 140 tons each, will spend the next five to 10 days fishing near the the Yongshu Reef, sailors of the fleet said.

China Yuzheng 310, a fishery administration patrol ship, has arrived at the area to protect the fishing activities.