Innovative fish farming vessel project launched

"It is expected to produce 3,200 to 4,000 tons of high-quality fish products every year, with total output value of about 220 million yuan ($33.5 million)," Dong said at a launch ceremony to officially mark the vessel's construction in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Saturday.

Wang Xiaohu, president of the China Academy of Fishery Sciences, said fish stocks have fallen around the world in recent years due to overfishing and pollution from traditional near-shore aquaculture operations.

"To solve these problems, Chinese marine and aquaculture specialists proposed the construction of fish farming vessels and carried out relevant feasible studies since the 1980s," Wang said. "After years of effort, Chinese researchers have acquired more than 30 proprietary intellectual property rights."