Growth drivers

During his tenure in Fujian, Xi championed an all-encompassing approach to food, underscoring the development of under-forest economies — ecologically sustainable activity that relies on forests and woodlands — and marine aquaculture. The approach sought to adapt development strategies to local conditions and fully transform Fujian's mountains and maritime assets into real drivers of growth.

Shen Ruidong, deputy Party secretary of Aojiao village, said the community has acted on this vision over the past two decades and striven to harness the ocean's abundance to boost public well-being.

A pivotal moment in the village's transformation came with the modernization of its fishing fleet, Shen said.

In the early 2000s, fishermen navigated rough waters in small wooden trawlers, and the prospects of deep-sea fishing or aquaculture seemed distant.

Confronted with challenges such as dwindling fish stocks, village officials worked tirelessly to secure bank loans that enabled local fishermen to purchase larger, steel-hulled vessels to replace the wooden trawlers.

These modern vessels — equipped with GPS navigation, hydraulic winches and refrigeration facilities — allow crews to stay at sea for 10 to 15 days at a stretch, venturing farther offshore and significantly cutting costs while boosting profits.

"The refrigeration equipment also allows us to keep the catches fresh and sell at better prices," he said.

Another key factor that underpinned the village's prosperity was the gradual pivot to the construction of modern sea farms to bolster the aquacultural sector.

Guo Handong, 57, had to switch from the building of wooden boats to the farming of abalone with the upgrading of the village's fishing vessels in 2010.

However, a powerful typhoon disrupted his operations years later by causing a power failure, rupturing pipes and causing oxygen levels in the water tanks to plummet — resulting in the loss of nearly half of his stock.

With help from authorities and aquaculture experts, Guo was able to rebuild his farm and deploy modern technology to monitor water quality, manage disease outbreaks, and better protect equipment from severe weather conditions.

Today, Guo's farm, one of 128 of its kind in Aojiao, boasts 122 tanks — nearly twice its previous capacity — and operates on an internet-of-things system that allows him to regulate oxygen levels with a tap on his phone, producing thousands of abalones each year with a smaller team.

The pivoting from wild catch to aquaculture in Aojiao epitomized the nation's broader shift in the fishing sector. Nationwide, 82 percent of China's aquatic products were produced through aquaculture in 2024, with the nation's aquacultural sector now accounting for nearly 60 percent of global aquaculture output.