- Su Hai No 1 to Launch in June as China Eyes Seafood Self-Reliance.
- Floating Salmon Farm Marks Milestone in China’s Marine Strategy.
- China Unveils Offshore Salmon Vessel to Cut Imports.
China is gearing up to launch the world’s first dedicated salmon farming vessel, marking a significant move towards cutting down its reliance on imported seafood through innovative offshore aquaculture, reports SCMP.
Meet Su Hai No. 1: A Floating Salmon Farm
This impressive, nearly 250-meter (820-foot) vessel, named Su Hai No 1, was constructed by Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou, with a hefty price tag of 600 million yuan (about US$83.6 million). The shipowner, Jiangsu Lianshen Marine Technology, anticipates that this vessel will be capable of producing up to 8,000 tonnes of salmon each year.
“This is a milestone for China’s high-quality development in modern marine fisheries, signalling that the country’s seafood market will significantly reduce its reliance on imported chilled salmon,” the company said.
Advanced Features and Flexibility
Unlike the typical offshore net-pen systems, the Su Hai No. 1 is designed to be mobile, allowing it to move to safer waters when faced with threats like typhoons or harmful algal blooms. Additionally, it features an onboard processing facility, enabling the delivery of fresh, processed salmon to domestic markets within 24 hours.
Government Support for Marine Farming
This project is in line with Beijing’s initiative to bolster the ocean economy and create a marine breadbasket to ensure the national food supply remains secure in the face of climate change, geopolitical tensions, and evolving trade dynamics.
Final Preparations and Deployment Plans
After wrapping up a trial voyage in late April, the vessel is now fine-tuning its features ahead of its scheduled delivery in June. Operations are set to kick off this autumn in the Yellow Sea near Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, with the first salmon harvest anticipated next year.
Meeting China’s Rising Demand for Salmon
At present, more than 80% of the salmon consumed in China is imported, primarily from Norway and Chile. A 2023 report from the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance indicates that the Su Hai No. 1 is poised to help satisfy the increasing domestic demand.
Last year, China brought in over 100,000 tonnes of salmon, and that number is expected to exceed 200,000 tonnes by 2030, as highlighted during the North Atlantic Seafood Forum in March.
Marine Aquaculture on the Rise
To support these advancements, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, along with the Ministry of Natural Resources, issued guidelines in 2023 aimed at promoting marine farming while also safeguarding the environment.
In the first quarter of this year, the output of marine aquatic products in the country rose by 4.5% compared to the previous year, with marine aquaculture seeing a 5.7% increase, according to official data. “The role of marine aquaculture in ensuring stable production and supply continues to become more evident,” the ministry said.
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Source: SCMP
