As the cool autumn breeze signals the start of the farming season, the critical window for seaweed seedling cultivation has arrived. As a key pillar of the local blue food economy, the cultivation process is now fully underway, setting the stage for a productive year at sea and increased income for local fishermen.
At the Qingbo seaweed seedling facility in Haitou Town, several seedling water wheels are operating steadily, with mature shell-based seedling carriers submerged in the tanks. As the wheels turn, the seaweed farming nets are repeatedly immersed in the water, allowing the naturally released shell spores to attach evenly to the net lines. Workers are collaborating efficiently, completing tasks such as net laying, tensioning, and hanging in a seamless process that lays a solid foundation for offshore farming.
Seedling cultivation is the core determinant of the entire year's yield, spanning the spring, summer, and autumn seasons with high standards and meticulous care. Xia Ranhao, the factory director and technician at Haitou Town's Qingbo seaweed seedling farm, emphasized that quality seedlings lead to quality seaweed, calling the seedlings the "first seed" of the industry. He noted that each stage requires strict adherence to technical standards, leaving no room for error.
The cultivation process is divided into two main phases: shell filament cultivation and spore collection. Breeding work begins in late March or early April, with high-quality shells selected as carriers for filament inoculation. During this period, strict technical protocols are followed, including shell cleaning, nutrient application, and light regulation every two weeks, with continuous monitoring of water quality and temperature until the shell spores mature. Entering August, the key collection period, mature shells reach their peak spore release when water temperature and light conditions hit optimal levels. The water wheels drive the nets through repeated, uniform soaking to achieve consistent spore attachment. Each batch undergoes microscopic inspection to ensure both spore density and germination rates meet standards before the nets are stored and deployed for farming.
The farm continues to refine its cultivation techniques, focusing on selective breeding of robust, disease-resistant seaweed varieties. From seed selection to cultivation and supply, every step is executed with precision. This year, the water conditions for seedling cultivation are excellent, with overall seedling quality surpassing previous years. The seedlings are uniform and resilient, showing stable growth once deployed at sea, which is expected to boost yields and reduce offshore farming risks. The improved seedlings cultivated this year will cover 3,000 to 5,000 acres of farming area, supplying not only local needs but also steadily providing for regions such as Lianyun District and coastal production areas in Weihai, Wendeng, and Jimo of Qingdao, effectively driving the regional seaweed industry's quality and efficiency.
Once the seedlings leave the facility, the offshore farming cycle begins. The nets laden with quality seedlings are transported to nearshore farming zones, where they are secured to the raft frames. Through scientific management practices involving lifting and lowering the nets and alternating wet and dry conditions, the seaweed is allowed to grow steadily with timely sun-drying and submersion maintenance. After roughly 30 days of marine cultivation, the first harvest of seaweed is expected to begin in early October, with a bountiful yield anticipated.
Currently, Haitou Town is home to 28 seedling farms, covering 289.45 acres with a total cultivation water volume of 56,150 cubic meters. Annually, these farms produce seedlings for 50,000 acres of nori, 100,000 acres of laver, 40 million kuruma prawn larvae, 400 million whiteleg shrimp larvae, 610 million Chinese shrimp larvae, and 2,300 pounds of swimming crab larvae, generating annual sales of approximately 85 million yuan. Moving forward, Haitou Town plans to further deepen its marine seed industry, upgrade seedling production capabilities, and leverage premium seed varieties to boost fishery efficiency and fisherman income, continuously strengthening the region's distinctive seaweed industry brand and injecting lasting momentum into the high-quality development of the marine economy.
Comments