March 21, 2007

China's Hubei tops the nation in aqua-product output for the 12th year
 

Hubei Province's aquatic-product output for 2006 reached 3.31 million tonnes, the 12th year the province has topped the nation, according to the Hubei Agriculture Bureau.

Last year's production saw an increase of 130,000 tonnes, or 3.9 percent over 2005. 

The development of the province's freshwater aquaculture industry was the fastest in history. Hubei is ideally suited for freshwater aquaculture due to its numerous lakes and water bodies. The province is slowly gaining industrial expertise in the 4 main fish types (Grass carp, Black carp, Silver Carp and Bighead carp) and in crayfish. As the province gained efficiency with modernized processing and packing methods, it became the top province for crayfish exports to EU, the US, Japan and South Korea.

The provincial agricultural office said the province is committed to the development of the freshwater aquaculture industry and would strive not only to boost export quantity but also to forge a nationally-known aquaculture brand. The office would also develop the aqua-product processing industry to aid the province in marketing its products to supermarket chains nationwide.