Theme C: Governance and the socio-economics of releases
20. ECOSYSTEM-BASED SEA RANCHING IN ZHANGZIDAO IN NORTHERN YELLOW SEA
WANG Qing-yin1, WU Hou-gang2, LIU Hui1, WANG Shi-huan2
1Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences. 106 Nanjing Road, Qingdao 266071, P R China.
2Dalian Zhangzidao Fishery Group Corporation
qywang@public.qd.sd.cn
In the past two decades, Zhangzidao Fishery Group Co. Ltd has been practicing the idealism of “ecosystem is living’ and establishing itself as a stock enhancement and sea ranching colossus in China. At present, Zhangzidao has been authorized to operate a sea area covering 1900 km2 in northern Yellow Sea, and utilizes the area till a water depth of 50 meters. In recent years, about 7 billion seedlings of scallop, abalone, sea cucumber and other commercially important species were released into this area annually, at a total value of 500 million RMB. In 2010, 55 000 t scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis), 1 500 t abalone (Haliotis discus hannai), 400 t sea urchins and 550 t sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicas) were harvested in Zhangzidao. Zhangzidao islands are composed of 9 islets, with a total land area of 14 km2 only. In the past decades, Zhangzidao has evolved from a small fishery company into a world-level integrated seafood producing group corporation, from larva/ seedling rearing, farming, basically by sea ranching, to processing and marketing. To implement sea ranching as the developmental strategy in Zhangzidao is based on the ecological condition, scientific considerations and targeting at sustainability. Tremendous efforts were made to optimize or improve the ecological conditions in sea ranching areas, including seaweeds planting and propagation and properly construct artificial reefs. In recent years, Zhangzidao invests around 10 million RMB each year to set up artificial reefs in her authorized sea area to improve habitats for fish and seaweeds, remediate and optimize the ecosystem for scallop, sea cucumber, sea urchin, abalone and the other economically important organisms.
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