A fleet of 30 fishing vessels began fishing operations in Nansha Islands in the southern-most of China's territory late Monday night, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Chinese fishery administration vessel, Yuzheng 310, is seen in waters off the Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea on July 15. [Photo: Xinhua]

The fleet left south China's Hainan Province on July 12, 2012. After a 78-hour voyage, it arrived at the waters near the Yongshu Reef in South China Sea and will spend the next five to 10 days fishing there.

Among the fleet are a 3,000-tonne supply ship and 29 ships weighing more than 140 tonnes each.

The 30 boats are divided into six teams and the fleet has a chief commander, three deputy commanders and a control team responsible for arranging and coordinating the operation of each team, China Daily reported.

Yuzheng 310, China's most advanced fishery administration patrol ship, has arrived at the area to protect the fishing activities.

China's manned submersible Jiaolong may undertake a deep sea dive mission in the South China Sea next year, a commanding officer said yesterday after the sub returned from a mission in which it conducted a record dive of 7,020 meters in the Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench.