The fishermen unload fresh jellyfish onto the dock in Dinghai district, Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

Fishermen from Jintang town in Dinghai district, Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, recently set out with special permits in search of jellyfish. After about three hours at sea, they returned triumphantly with their catch, some of which were as large as washbasins.

Large boats primarily supply wholesalers, while smaller boats sell directly to locals at the docks, where jellyfish are priced between 1.5 to 2 yuan (21 cents to 28 cents) per 500 grams. Many residents flock to buy the fresh jellyfish, with some purchasing up to 100 kilograms.

This year's harvest has significantly exceeded that of previous years, with large numbers of jellyfish being quickly snapped up.

After being salted at home, fresh jellyfish are ready to eat in about a month and can be stored for over a year. Pickled jellyfish are also popular, with stores in Dinghai selling them for 100 yuan per 2.5-kilogram bucket.

"Jellyfish thrive in a healthy marine environment, and their abundance indicates an improved marine environment," said Jiang Honglei, a germplasm expert at the Ningbo Ocean and Fisheries Research Institute.

Jiang attributed this year's bumper harvest to prolonged high temperatures and low rainfall, which created ideal conditions for jellyfish to grow.

To support the restoration of marine ecosystems, Zhejiang province releases large numbers of artificially bred jellyfish every year.

The number of jellyfish will naturally decline after the peak breeding season from September to October due to changing weather conditions.