In celebration of World Oceans Day, the coastal city of Yantai held a charity event on June 6 to release fish into the sea. The event took place near the Huanghai Sea in Laishan district.

The UN officially designated June 8 each year as the World Oceans Day in 2008.

During the event, more than one million fish were released into the sea.

Hosted by the local government, the event is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of protecting aquatic resources and the marine environment.

The organizers also held online quizzes to test people's knowledge about oceans and marine life, children's painting competitions and flash mob performances.

Yantai, with a coastline stretching 1,038 kilometers, has a thriving fishing industry. In 2019, the city's marine products were valued at 248 billion yuan ($34.83 billion), an increase of 10.7 percent year-on-year.

In recent years, local authorities have been stressing on the importance of preserving fishing stocks and focusing on the protection of aquatic resources and ecosystems.

The coastal city of Yantai holds a charity event to release fish into the sea on June 6 in celebration of World Oceans Day. [Photo/sdchina.com]

Citizens release fish into the ocean in Yantai, Shandong province. [Photo/ shm.com.cn]

Citizens release fish near the Huanghai Sea in Laishan district, Yantai. [Photo/ shm.com.cn]