On the afternoon of March 24, Hainan’s first semi-submersible deep-sea intelligent aquaculture tourism platform arrived in the waters of Longqi Bay, Ledong Li Autonomous County.
The platform, named “Pusheng Ocean Ranch No. 1”, is anchored in an area about 8 nautical miles from the coastline of Longqi Bay. Pusheng was transported to Hainan from Guangzhou, after anchoring and debugging the platform is expected to be put into operation from mid-April.
It has a total length of 86 meters and a width of 30 meters, with an area equivalent to the size of 6 basketball courts and a six-story building.
Three types of fish, greater amberjack, cobia, and spotted sea bream have been selected for breeding in the 30,000 cubic meters of sea area used by the platform. The onboard equipment includes an automatic bait feeding system and systems for monitoring fish health and water quality.
Ji Wenwen, chairman of Hainan Pusheng Marine Technology Development Co., Ltd, said that according to the construction plan of the marine ranch, activities such as reproduction and release, artificial reefs, and recreational fisheries will be carried out.
According to reports, China is the only major fishing country in the world whose aquaculture output exceeds fishing output. In 2020, China’s per capita share of aquatic products reached 46.4 kilograms, twice the world’s per capita level.
Ji yuwen said that “In the context of the construction of a free trade port on the whole island of Hainan, we are full of confidence in the rise of the marine economy, the arrival of the No. 1 platform this time is just the beginning”.
What is Aquaculture
Aquaculture which is more often referred to as fish farming is similar to agriculture. It is the controlled process of cultivating aquatic organisms, usually for human consumption
Aquaculture is a necessary and sustainable option for consumers. As the worldwide population grows so does the demand for food. With the overfishing of the oceans continuously rising, new tools and technologies are required to keep up with demand.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the number of overfished stocks globally has tripled in half a century and today one-third of the world’s assessed fisheries are currently pushed beyond their biological limits.
It is expected that by 2050 the global population will reach 10 billion, and with that, the global demand for protein will reach 52%.
As aquaculture is more resource-efficient in comparison to chicken, pig, and cow farming. It provides more edible meat with a higher protein and energy retention.
Benefits of aquaculture
In comparison to traditional fishing methods, fish farms can be equipped with cameras, oxygen sensors, and other digital equipment. The data collected is important so that operators can optimize feeding and environmental conditions.
Other benefits of moving fish farms out to the open sea include more space, deeper waters, and stronger currents. Ocean currents are effective for reducing the spread of parasites and water pollution.
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