Shandong marine ranch revives ecology, boosts aquaculture

In Rongcheng's Ailun Bay Marine Ranch, Shandong province, a harvest of kelp is underway. Using a multi‑trophic integrated aquacultural model known locally as "stacking", the ranch has turned the sea into a highly productive "blue granary".

At the surface of the sea, kelp and other seaweeds act as purifiers. In the middle waters, shellfish such as abalone and scallops filter plankton. On the seabed, artificial reefs and seagrass beds host sea cucumbers, urchins, and fish.

An aerial view of the Ailun Bay Marine Ranch in Rongcheng, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/Dazhong News]

The ecological restoration work succeeded so well that wild fish returned in large numbers. These fish then began preying on juvenile shellfish, reducing survival rates by nearly 40 percent. Researchers responded with ecological solutions, including buffer zones, bait feeding, and bionic nets. Within six months, wild fish were effectively diverted. As a result, total per‑mu (0.07 hectares) output increased another 12 percent over a previous 26 percent gain.

Shandong now leads the nation in marine ranching, with 71 national‑level ranches, accounting for 38 percent of China's total. By using the sea while nurturing it, the province is turning aquaculture into a sustainable and high‑yield "blue granary".

Shandong leads China in marine ranching with 71 national-level ranches, turning aquaculture into a sustainable, high-yield "blue granary". [Photo/Dazhong News]

（chinadaily.com.cn）