November brings scenes of harvest across the waters of Liandao Island in Lianyungang. At the fishing port economic zone dock in Xiliandao Village, fishermen are busy unloading baskets of Porphyra haitanensis. "Soon, we'll start harvesting the oysters seeded in September, followed by the concentrated harvest period for Pyropia yezoensis," says fisherman Sun Zhongwang, his face brimming with joy.
This joy stems from transformative changes. Through technological innovation and a comprehensive industrial chain approach, Lianyungang's Lianyun District is actively developing a national-level fishing port economic zone. By upgrading traditional coastal fishing into a modern "blue pasture" that ensures efficient resource utilization and year-round harvests, the district has overcome the challenge of seasonal idle waters. Projects such as offshore oyster farms and integrated multi-layer aquaculture trials for high-value seafood are paving the way for high-quality fisheries development in coastal regions, offering the "Lianyun Model."
**Breaking Traditional Bottlenecks: Activating the "Off-Season" in Marine Areas** With a 118-kilometer coastline, 1,600 square kilometers of marine area, and 53,000 hectares of nearshore aquaculture space, Lianyun District long struggled with the seasonal inactivity of traditional seaweed farming. From April to August each year, vast waters lay dormant—until now.
"This year, our trial farming of 200 cages of abalone, launched in May, sold out completely, meeting initial expectations," says Zhang Weisong, head of an abalone farming enterprise in Liandao. "Building on this experience, we plan to expand abalone and Gracilaria farming next April, optimizing techniques and scaling up production."
Backed by a 2.44-million-yuan provincial research grant, the Lianyungang Marine and Fisheries Development Promotion Center, Liandao Subdistrict, and Jiangsu Ocean University have pioneered a three-dimensional aquaculture model. By leveraging temperature differences between northern and southern waters, they adopted a "migratory" abalone farming approach, shortening growth cycles by 30%. From mid-April to October, Liandao's waters (15–29°C) provide ideal conditions; in winter, abalone are relocated to Fujian’s Luoyuan waters (15–22°C), ensuring uninterrupted growth.
This innovation not only revitalizes idle waters but also fills a gap in Jiangsu’s high-value shellfish farming, opening doors for diversified fisheries.
**Building Offshore Oyster Farms: A Green Aquaculture Loop** At the heart of the "blue pasture" is an ecological cycle where "algae nourish shellfish, and shellfish promote algae." This model doubles marine resource efficiency, harmonizing aquaculture with environmental sustainability.
Gracilaria acts as a natural purifier, absorbing nitrogen and phosphorus from abalone waste, while abalone feed on the algae, creating a zero-pollution, low-energy loop. Previously reliant on Pyropia yezoensis, Lianyun faced frequent disease outbreaks and declining yields. To counter this, the district reduced seaweed farming areas and partnered with aquaculture leaders in Shandong, Fujian, and Dalian to develop oyster farming.
Today, a 1.25-billion-yuan investment has established a 125,000-mu (20,625-acre) "offshore oyster park," alongside 100,000 mu of Pyropia yezoensis, 60,000 mu of bottom-sown shellfish (e.g., clams), and 15,000 mu of sea cucumbers.
**Expanding into Deep Seas: Embracing the "Big Food Vision"** Beyond innovation, Lianyun is building a full industrial chain—from seedling cultivation (200 million high-quality fish, shrimp, and crab seedlings annually) to processing (a 569-million-yuan cold-chain logistics park) and marine tech hubs. Tourism integration, like seafood festivals, boosts local hospitality businesses.
As nearshore space saturates, deep-sea expansion becomes imperative. The district’s pioneering Antarctic krill vessel, *Shenlan*, set a national record with 71,000 tons this season (145,000 tons cumulative). Projects like the Cheiniushan Island high-value seafood base and Gaogong Island fishing-tourism complex signal accelerated deep-sea ventures.
Recently, Liandao introduced 2,000 salmon fry (45–50 cm, 2 kg each) into cold-resistant deep-water cages, marking a critical step in high-value aquaculture. Success could elevate local industry value chains and create jobs.
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