December 19, 2007

China's Shandong to expand artificial reef-building after yields soar

China's eastern coastal province of Shandong plans to expand 551 hectares of artificial reefs to 3,000 hectares over the next three years after yields soared more than 100-fold in some areas.

The man-made reefs were first laid in 2005 with six pilot zones on the coastal seabed of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea to rehabilitate fish stocks in the inshore area, which had been drastically reduced by pollution and over-fishing.

The project, which focused on areas near the cities of Rizhao, Weihai and Yantai costs RMB160 million (US$21.6 million) and has a total coverage of 551 hectares.

The reefs ensured harvests of around 225 tonnes, equivalent to RMB30 million, according to the provincial marine fishing department.

In Yantai, the average haul from every 100 square meters of seawater was only 0.48 kilogramme before the building of the reefs. The amount rose to 52 kg this year, more than 100 times higher.

Meanwhile, the species of fish rose from 5 in 2005 to 28 this year, said Wang Shutian, an official in charge of marine fishing in Shandong.

Wang said the government would allocate RMB45 million to launch the 10 new artificial reefs. However, a private investment of RMB105 million (US$14 million) is needed to expedite the project. 

Artificial reefs were first built by fishermen to grow shrimp, crab and shellfish when offshore fishing hauls were shrinking.