Nine foreign fishermen have been approved for employment from East China’s Zhejiang provincial government.

The group, five from the Philippines and four from Indonesia, received permits to work for the Zhejiang Industrial Group Co., Ltd., a fishing and seafood manufacturer based in Zhoushan Islands.

It is the first time that China has approved working permits for foreign fishermen, Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.

Zhejiang’s human resources and social security authority said Zhoushan will act as a trial place for the policy and try to make the application process easier for foreigners.

Experts said approving the employment of foreign fishermen will help the area become more recognizable as a national hub for deep-sea fishing.