In Daishan county of Zhoushan city, East China's Zhejiang province, fishermen live off the bounty of the sea.

Xia Yongxiang, chairman of the Heyuren Fishery Professional Cooperative in Daishan county and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), embodies this way of life and is dedicated to serving local fishing community.

The cooperative's headquarters, known as the "home of fishermen", houses the fishery command center. It also serves as a Party members' activity center, a reception room for deputies to the people’s congress, and a gathering place for fisherwomen.

Now in his late 60s, Xia remains deeply committed to serving his fellow fishermen, staying busy every day..

In 2006, Xia organized over 1,700 fishermen from five villages in his town to establish the cooperative. At first, they rented six rooms, but they quickly proved inadequate for such a large group.

Determined to build a home for his fellow fishermen, he worked tirelessly to secure support for the construction of the cooperative building. Now, the three-storey structure features a spacious meeting room on the third floor that can accommodate up to 150 fishermen for annual meetings.

Under Xia's leadership, the local fishing community secured steadily increasing incomes. Once impoverished and underdeveloped, the fishing villages have undergone a remarkable transformation, leading the way in implementing shareholding reform of the collective economy and achieving the building of a moderately prosperous community.

Despite challenges such as a diverse fishing fleet, varied operational styles and high labor turnover, Xia has managed to address conflicts within the cooperative effectively. His principle of "major issues stay in house, minor issues stay on boat" has proven successful in mediating over 100 disputes among fishermen each year, , delivering strong results in maintaining harmony within the community.

"As a grassroots NPC deputy in Zhoushan, I feel a strong sense of responsibility," Xia said. "Having been born and raised in a fishing village, I am most concerned about fisheries."

Since becoming an NPC deputy in 2018, Xia has put forward more than 40 suggestions related to fisheries, covering issues such as sustainable growth, green marine development, combating illegal fishing, accelerating technological upgrades for fishing vessels, and enhancing work safety supervision. His suggestions have provided valuable insights for top-level planning and decision-making by relevant government departments.

At the "Heyuren" deputy outreach and liaison office, Xia attentively listens to the voices of his fellow fishermen, understanding their concerns and facilitating the resolution of over 120 disputes.

Recognizing the communication difficulties faced by fishermen spending extended periods at sea, he proposed displaying deputy QR codes on fishing vessels, helping solve pressing issues more efficiently.

"The QR code on fishing vessels not only helps address the immediate needs of fishermen but also helps foster the idea of 'in times of need, turn to your deputies' within the community," Xia said.

With unwavering commitment, he has tackled numerous challenges on behalf of his fellow fishermen, earning the title of "caring guardian" in the "Heyuren" community.

Xia Yongxiang (third from the left), chairman of the Heyuren Fishery Professional Cooperative in Daishan county and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, solicits opinions and suggestions from fishermen on upgrading and improving the refrigeration equipment on board. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

Yu Hao contributed to this story.