QINGDAO has started the construction of five artificial fish reefs in Wanggezhuang, Wuding Reef, Daguan Island, Shilingzi Reef and Zhaitang Island, each with a planned area of 300 hectares.

    Work on the construction of another three artificial fish reefs will also start in the next five years. When completed, the eight artificial reefs are expected to make considerable profit.

    The first to start being constructed, the fish reef in Wanggezhuang sea area reported last year an estimated value of 11.6 billion yuan for its abalones and sea cucumbers. A total of 500,000 kilograms of abalones and 400,000 kilograms of sea cucumbers were reaped in the Wanggezhuang fish reef last year, which were valued at 160 million yuan.

    “As well as the monetary gain, the fish reef can provide habitat for marine life and keep away fishing boats,” said Wang Jinxia, who is in charge of the fish reef project in the Wanggezhuang sea area.

    On top of the fish reef construction, the city is also seeking to develop deep sea fishing for a diversified and abundant source of sea food, since marine experts have cautioned that, only fish reef was not enough to restore the marine ecology.

    The accelerating construction of the fish reef has also made it necessary to develop deep sea fishing. The number of the city’s fishing boats reduced from 7,227 in 2005 to 4,996 last year.

    Starting last year, Dayu Fishing Development Corp. in Jiaonan has built 18 fleets of high horsepower fishing boats. Each high horsepower fishing boat has generated an annual net income of 1.5 million yuan. Another 20 high horsepower fishing boats are scheduled to be completed and set sail in the first half of this year.

    There will be 100 high horsepower fishing boats and 30 deep sea fishing boats in Qingdao by 2015.

    Since sea farming and fishing are subject to the influence of factors like pollution and climate, large-scale and standard land breeding should also be developed, according to the city’s marine and fishing department.

    The city has constructed a demonstration seafood breeding base in Jimo, in which all breeding ponds have been rented out.

    In the next five years, Qingdao will complete 6,666.67 hectares of sea cucumber breeding ponds, 3,333.33 hectares of abalone breeding ponds and 3,333.33 hectares of breeding ponds.

    The city will strive to achieve a 1.25-million-ton sea food production volume, as well as an output value of 50 billion yuan before 2015.(Li Hao, Han Guangliang)