BEIJING - Chinese fishermen's average per capita net income rose 11.7 percent year-on-year to reach 10,012 yuan ($1,589) in 2011, a senior agriculture official said Thursday.

This marked the first time that fishermen's average per capita income exceeded 10,000 yuan.

China's fishing industry achieved steady development this year. Aquatic product output and prices increased rapidly, and exports soared, Niu Dun, vice minister of agriculture, said at a national fisheries work conference.

The Ministry of Agriculture estimated that the country's aquatic product output will grow by 4.4 percent to 56.11 million tonnes this year, while aquatic product exports will rise to $18 billion, representing a 30-percent increase year-on-year.

The fisheries sector saw its output total 47.73 million tonnes during the first 11 months, up 4.3 percent year-on-year. Exports rose 30.2 percent to hit $15.9 billion during the same period.

Niu said the ministry is targeting an 8-percent rise in fishermen's average per capita net income and an output of 58 million tonnes in 2012.