Weifang county's sturgeon farms thrive in aquaculture boom

Yeyuan sub-district in Linqu county, Weifang has become renowned for its fish farming thanks to the rich mountain springs that create perfect conditions for raising high-quality fish with superior taste and appearance. The sub-district is particularly celebrated for its sturgeon farming, as this 'living fossil' of the aquatic world flourishes in Yeyuan's pristine waters.

A photo of the sturgeons, often referred to as a "living fossil" of the aquatic world. [Photo by Wang Ying for chinadaily.com.cn]

Yeyuan sub-district in Linqu county, Weifang boasts pristine waters that provide an ideal environment for fish farming. [Photo by Wang Ying for chinadaily.com.cn]

Linqu is home to 108 sturgeon farmers who have turned this venture into a "hundred-million-yuan industry", achieving an impressive annual income of 130 million yuan ($17.88 million) and an annual output reaching 6,000 metric tons.

The county's freshwater fish professional breeding cooperative, supported by various departments, offers comprehensive services including technology promotion, disease prevention, market sales, veterinary drug development, and financial support. This has led to the establishment of an integrated industrial system that encompasses fish egg collection, hatching, feeding, sales, and feed processing.

In recent years, Linqu county has focused on enhancing the three major systems of modern agriculture: industry, production, and management. It has fostered the growth of new types of agricultural business entities, such as leading agricultural enterprises, family farms, and farmers' professional cooperatives.