High quality development research tour | Sing the ocean pastoral song - Guangdong's "blue economy" development enters the fast lane pasture | Ocean | Blue

In the Wanshan area of Zhuhai, Guangdong, a white "fortress" floats on the endless blue sea surface. As it slowly rises, a 12 meter high net cage emerges from the water, and schools of grouper raised in the cage shuttle and swim.

This is the first large-scale semi submersible wave energy aquaculture tourism platform in China, "Penghu", and also a microcosm of Guangdong's marine ranching practice.

The ocean is a strategic location for high-quality development. Guangdong is a major maritime province with a winding mainland coastline of 4314 kilometers and a vast sea area of 420000 square kilometers. Its unique climate and natural environment have nurtured abundant marine life.

Emerging from the sea and striving for strength towards the sea, Guangdong Province's total marine production value reached 1.8 trillion yuan in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 5.4%. The "blue economy" is accelerating its development on the land of southern Guangdong, and the rise of "ocean ranches" has become a new driving force for high-quality development in Guangdong.

This is China's first semi submersible wave energy aquaculture tourism platform, the Penghu, located in the Wanshan area of Zhuhai, Guangdong. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Deng Hua

"Wind and waves are the biggest 'enemy' of deep-sea aquaculture. Compared with traditional aquaculture, the deep-sea aquaculture platform has stronger anti wind and wave ability, larger area, guaranteed breeding safety, and better fish quality." Wang Zhenpeng, a doctor from the Guangzhou Institute of Energy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, who presided over the research and development of the "Penghu", said that since its completion, the platform has successfully bred a variety of marine fish, such as pomfret and grouper.

Guangdong was the first to initiate China's deepwater net cage aquaculture, and was the first to achieve the localization, development, promotion, and application of deepwater net cage equipment. Data shows that by the end of 2022, Guangdong Province has built 145 sea related platforms at or above the provincial level covering marine biotechnology, marine disaster prevention and reduction, marine medicine, marine environment and other fields, including one State Key Laboratory. Technology has given wings to the industry, promoting the transformation and upgrading of marine fisheries towards informatization, intelligence, and modernization.

Not only good equipment, but also good seeds. At the sea bass conservation farm in Raoping, Chaozhou, hundreds of mother bass fish roam among them, and the construction of a provincial-level bass breeding farm is in full swing. After the completion of this excellent breeding farm, 300 million high-quality sea bass fry can be cultivated annually, providing a solid seed guarantee for the high-quality development of modern marine ranches.

In recent years, the "Guangdong Strong Seed Core" project has accelerated and cultivated a number of superior marine fish species, such as golden pomfret, sea bass, military grass, grouper, and other high-quality and high-value varieties, enriching the choices on people's dining tables.

Relying on research and development achievements in the seed industry, the enormous food potential hidden in the vast ocean is constantly being explored. According to data, in 2022, Guangdong Province produced 3.36 million tons of marine aquaculture, including 780000 tons of fish, 720000 tons of crustaceans, 1.78 million tons of shellfish, and over 60000 tons of algae. The "ocean rice bowl" is becoming increasingly stable.

Every year in the golden autumn season, the plump golden pomfret in Zhanjiang, Guangdong enters the harvest period. This place is known as the "capital of Chinese goldfish" and has over 3500 deep-sea aquaculture water tanks.

How to make "one fish" generate the value of "multiple fish"? Continuously extending the industrial chain is the secret.

These golden pomfrets are not only sold directly to the market, but also enter factories and go on assembly lines to be made into delicious and convenient pre made vegetable products. In addition, the golden pomfret "swims" internationally and exports to countries and regions such as Malaysia and India.

In Xilian Town, Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, fishermen harvest golden pomfret by pulling nets in deep-sea cages. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liang Xu

"Previously, the relatively single product led to the inability of the golden pomfret to gain a broad market. By developing prefabricated vegetables and other means to extend the industrial chain, not only did the price of the golden pomfret increase, but more and more farmers became rich from it." The relevant person in charge of the Zhanjiang Agriculture and Rural Bureau introduced.

In addition to launching more modern ocean ranch pre made vegetable products, combining with biotechnology is an important direction and cutting-edge field for deep processing of ocean products. Guangdong widely applies biotechnology in marine health food, cosmetics, biomedicine and other fields, driving the increase in the value of the entire industry chain.

"We need to promote the improvement and efficiency of traditional marine industries," said Qu Jiashu, Director of the Guangdong Provincial Oceanic Bureau. Guangdong will accelerate the promotion of marine ranching and deep sea aquaculture, and explore the construction of a modern marine ranching industry chain from seed industry, aquaculture, equipment to deep processing.