Marine economy advancing sustainably

Zhanjiang, a major hub for China's marine economy, has embraced a dual focus on developing its marine economy while protecting its ecology, achieving a balance between economic growth and sustainability.

The city has maintained its leading position in marine fishery output and value in Guangdong province for 30 years. Serving as a stabilizer for high-quality development, its marine economy ranked 19th nationwide and third in Guangdong in terms of competitiveness in 2025.

According to Zhao Gang, director of the Zhanjiang ocean and fisheries bureau, Zhanjiang's gross marine product grew by 47.51 billion yuan ($6.83 billion) from 2020 to 2024, marking a 56.7 percent increase. The marine economy's contribution to GDP rose from 27 percent to 34.2 percent, making it a key driver of the city's growth.

Zhanjiang's marine ranching efforts have also emerged as a key component of that economy. Home to four deep-sea net cage aquaculture clusters — Zhanjiang Bay, Leizhou Bay, Liusha Bay and Caotan Bay — the city boasts a total aquaculture volume of 18.6 million cubic meters, accounting for 35 percent of Guangdong's large aquaculture platforms.

Building on these strengths, Zhanjiang has become a hub of marine innovation, drawing upon resources provided by Guangdong Ocean University and Zhanjiang Bay Laboratory. Breakthroughs in the localized artificial breeding technology of key species, such as the Naozhou golden pomfret, and expanded breeding success across eight species underscore the city's expertise. With 480 seedling farms — 23.6 percent of Guangdong's total — Zhanjiang has established itself as the province's leading center for marine seed innovation.

In equipment manufacturing, the launch of Zhanjiang Bay No 1, the world's first floating dynamic positioning aquaculture platform, heralds a new era of smart deep-sea aquaculture. Alongside harvests from large aquaculture platforms, including the Havwii series, Hengyi No 1 and Zhannong No 1, Zhanjiang is leading in modern marine ranching for scale and technological advancement in the province.

Zhanjiang exports aquatic products to more than 40 countries and regions. Its marine industries encompass fisheries, oil and gas, chemicals, and tourism, each contributing over 10 billion yuan in added value to the economy. Marine tourism is experiencing the fastest growth, at a rate of 17.49 percent.