A worker makes sports nets at Hunan Xinghai Sports Co., Ltd. (Xinghai Sports) in Yuanjiang City, central China's Hunan Province, March 12, 2025. As the Chinese government has ramped up efforts to protect fishery resources in Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake, and Yangtze River, the country's longest waterway, many fishermen sought alternative livelihoods, resulting in the company having to rethink its business model.

Hunan Xinhai Co., Ltd., an established enterprise with a nearly 50-year history of fishing nets production based in Yuanjiang City, set up Xinghai Sports, a subsidiary engaging in the manufacturing of sports nets, aiming at products transformation and upgrading, as well as market expansion. In 2024, the annual sales of Xinghai Sports exceeded 120 million RMB Yuan (about 16.57 million U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

A worker assembles a sports net at Hunan Xinghai Sports Co., Ltd. (Xinghai Sports) in Yuanjiang City, central China's Hunan Province, March 12, 2025.(Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

Workers check the sports nets at Hunan Xinghai Sports Co., Ltd. (Xinghai Sports) in Yuanjiang City, central China's Hunan Province, March 12, 2025.(Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

A drone photo taken on March 11, 2025 shows workers testing a newly developed golf hitting net at Hunan Xinghai Sports Co., Ltd. (Xinghai Sports) in Yuanjiang City, central China's Hunan Province.(Xinhua/Ruan Zhouwei)

A drone photo taken on March 11, 2025 shows workers testing a newly developed golf hitting net at Hunan Xinghai Sports Co., Ltd. (Xinghai Sports) in Yuanjiang City, central China's Hunan Province.(Xinhua/Ruan Zhouwei)

Various sports nets are seen at Hunan Xinghai Sports Co., Ltd. (Xinghai Sports) in Yuanjiang City, central China's Hunan Province, March 12, 2025.(Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

A worker checks the sports nets at Hunan Xinghai Sports Co., Ltd. (Xinghai Sports) in Yuanjiang City, central China's Hunan Province, March 12, 2025.(Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

Workers make sports nets at Hunan Xinghai Sports Co., Ltd. (Xinghai Sports) in Yuanjiang City, central China's Hunan Province, March 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

A worker checks the sports nets at Hunan Xinghai Sports Co., Ltd. (Xinghai Sports) in Yuanjiang City, central China's Hunan Province, March 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)