Weihai hi-tech park builds thriving 'blue granary' through smart marine ranching

Off the western coast of Shuangdao Bay, a new era of marine development is taking shape. In Weihai Torch Hi-tech Science Park, Yutai, an aquatic products company, has turned over 300 hectares of sea into a dynamic national-level marine ranch — an ecosystem where technology, ecology, and sustainability work in harmony.

The ranch employs a multi-trophic ecological farming model that integrates scallops, sea cucumbers, and marine worms — species that occupy different levels of the marine food chain. Each section of the sea is carefully planned based on its depth and seabed composition: scallops thrive in deep offshore waters, sea cucumbers inhabit reef zones in mid-depth areas, and marine worms live closer to the shore. Together, they create a self-sustaining ecosystem that naturally maintains water quality and biodiversity.

An aerial view of a marine ranch in Weihai. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The ranch also grows seaweeds such as kelp, sargassum, and ulva, forming underwater "forests" that release oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, and provide habitats for marine species. The ecological interactions among these organisms — from the filtration of scallops to the sediment-turning of marine worms — create a complete cycle of nutrient renewal and environmental balance. Consequently, the area's comprehensive economic output has grown by over 20 percent.

Weihai Torch Hi-tech Science Park, with a 37-kilometer coastline and 41,000 hectares of marine waters, has made the blue economy a strategic focus. It has established four national-level marine ranches equipped with intelligent monitoring systems that enable real-time observation, measurement, and environmental control. Annual marine aquaculture output continues to rise steadily, with sea cucumber, scallop, and oyster production leading the way.

By integrating smart technology, ecological restoration, and recreational marine industries, Weihai is charting a sustainable path toward a diversified and modern marine economy — one that turns its coastal waters into a powerful engine for development and prosperity. (Edited by Hu Kaili)