May 29, 2025

China to deliver world's first salmon-farming ship, modernising fisheries

China is building the world's first ship dedicated to salmon farming, and it is set to be delivered in June – a sign of the country's latest efforts to reduce its reliance on imported seafood through offshore aquaculture.

The nearly 250-metre (820-foot) Su Hai No 1 vessel, built by Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou at a cost of 600 million yuan (US$83.6 million), is expected to produce up to 8,000 tonnes of salmon annually, according to the shipowner, Jiangsu Lianshen Marine Technology.

"This is a milestone for China's high-quality development in modern marine fisheries, signalling that the country's seafood market will significantly reduce its reliance on imported chilled salmon," the company said.

Unlike traditional offshore net-pen systems, the vessel can quickly relocate to safer waters to avoid adverse conditions such as typhoons and harmful algal blooms. It also features an onboard processing facility capable of delivering fresh, processed salmon to some domestic markets as quickly as 24 hours.

Beijing has emphasised the importance of developing the ocean economy and strengthening the nation's food supply by building a "marine breadbasket", as the government prioritises food security amid global climate change, geopolitical shifts, and trade tensions with the West.

Ahead of next month's delivery, the Su Hai No 1 is undergoing adjustments at the shipyard following a trial voyage in late April, the company said.

It is expected to begin operations as early as this autumn in the Yellow Sea off Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, with the first batch of salmon expected to be harvested next year, the company noted.

Deploying its new vessel into the Yellow Sea will help sate Chinese consumers' growing appetite for salmon, as more than 80 % of consumption currently relies on imports, according to an industry report released last year by the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance.

China imported more than 100,000 tonnes of salmon last year, mainly from Norway and Chile, and is projected to import more than 200,000 tonnes by 2030, according to data released in March during the North Atlantic Seafood Forum.

China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Natural Resources released a set of guidelines last year, pledging to promote marine farming while ensuring that the ocean environment is protected.

In the first quarter of this year, the national output of marine aquatic products increased by 4.5 %, year-on-year, with marine aquaculture output rising by 5.7 %, official data showed.

The role of marine aquaculture in ensuring stable production and supply continues to become more evident, the ministry said.

-      South China Morning Post