In the Pinggui District of Hezhou City, Guangxi, the Yuyue Tianxia Land-Based Fishery Ecological Aquaculture Demonstration Zone is showcasing a modern approach to fish farming. Xu Wenjiang, head of Jiuzhou Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., was recently observed crouching by a pool, inspecting the growth of catfish. "Look at the scales, the vitality. Three months of hard work have paid off," he said with a smile, gently releasing the fish back into the water. The fish dove deeply, creating a splash, before rejoining the feeding frenzy.
Three years ago, Xu Wenjiang, then 50, was struggling with fruit trees in his orchards of Gonggan citrus and grapes. With fruit prices consistently low and labor and land rental costs rising, he stumbled upon the first phase of the Pinggui District's fishery demonstration zone. There, he saw over 600 circular pools arranged neatly, with clear water and dense, energetic fish stocks. The wastewater, after being filtered through multiple layers, was used to irrigate nearby greenhouse vegetables. He was stunned, remarking, "Fish farming can be this clean? This is more promising than growing fruit." After 20 years of fruit cultivation, Xu Wenjiang leased out his orchards and fully committed to facility-based aquaculture.
Today, his company, Hezhou Jiuzhou Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., has completed the second phase of the project, building 200 high-standard recirculating water circular pools. These pools are home to 600,000 'Royal Concubine No. 5' catfish, thriving in a controlled environment. Each pool, with a diameter of 8 meters and an area of over 50 square meters, yields 1.5 tons of commercial fish annually, generating a value of 120,000 yuan. This production efficiency is 13 times higher than traditional ponds. "Before, a mu of pond required a year of work and produced less than 500 kilograms of fish, all while being vulnerable to floods and droughts. Now, I sit in the office, monitoring dissolved oxygen, temperature, and ammonia nitrogen levels in real time on my phone. If anything goes wrong, the system alerts me immediately. It's much more convenient," Xu Wenjiang explained.
The true engine of this system is the invisible 'water circulation heart' at the bottom of the pools. The cycle begins with the treatment of aquaculture wastewater: it is first directed into a microfilter for solid-liquid separation, then into a biological filtration system to break down harmful substances, and finally, it is returned to the pools with replenished, high-pressure oxygen. This entire process operates in a closed loop. Fish waste and uneaten feed, extracted by the microfilter, are processed through flocculation, sedimentation, and pressure filtration into dry cakes. These cakes are then supplied to nearby vegetable bases as organic fertilizer. This system achieves a 95% removal rate of suspended solids, an 85% removal rate of total nitrogen, and an 80% removal rate of total phosphorus. Consequently, wastewater is no longer discharged into external rivers, the fish ponds are odor-free, and there have been no more complaints from nearby villagers.
The second phase of the demonstration zone is being developed on a 'construction, production, and results' rolling basis. It plans to establish a total of 300 circular pools, with 200 already in operation. The project has secured long-term contracts with the Guangdong Global Aquatic Products Trading Market, ensuring a stable market for its output. After the first batch of mature fish hits the market in October, the base will supply a steady 20,000 jin (10,000 kg) of fish daily, with a daily turnover of 100,000 yuan. The annual production is expected to reach 2,000 tons of high-quality commercial fish. The base also boosts local incomes by providing land rental and employment opportunities, benefiting hundreds of farmers. Yang Xiulan, a household previously lifted out of poverty, now works at the base, cleaning pools and feeding fish. She earns a stable monthly salary of over 3,000 yuan, double what she made from farming.
Standing by the pool, Xu Wenjiang reflected, "Growing fruit meant worrying about wind, rain, and low prices. Now, with fish farming, I control the water, the system manages the technology, and the market is secured by contracts. It gives me peace of mind." From fruit trees to circular pools, and from relying on the weather to managing through a screen, he has charted a path from traditional farmer to modern facility-based aquaculture operator in just three years. This cycle of clean water is not only producing high-yield, efficient 'golden fish' but also represents a model for Hezhou's fishery transformation from extensive to green, and from experience-based to intelligent operations.
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