中国·福州——热爱城市从热爱美食开始

Building China’s competitive edge in aquatic products to capture global markets --

Lianjiang launches multiple initiatives to boost its city brand as the “World’s Fishing Capital · Fuzhou Lianjiang”

As one of China’s leading counties in fisheries, Lianjiang boasts a 238-kilometer coastline and 3,112 square kilometers of sea area. How can it effectively build and promote its city brand as the “World’s Fishing Capital · Fuzhou Lianjiang”?

From building China’s competitive edge in aquatic seed breeding to driving innovation in deep processing and uniting to secure overseas orders, Lianjiang is focusing on the entire industry chain, from production and processing to sales. With a determination to seize early opportunities and deliver tangible results, the county is actively exploring new strategies amid the accelerated development of the “Maritime Fuzhou” initiative.

Lianjiang fishermen were busy harvesting kelp. (Photo courtesy of Lian Rongmei)

Building a competitive edge:

High-quality breeds are highly favored by aquaculture farmers

Currently, Lianjiang’s self-developed “Huangguan No. 1” high-quality kelp variety is in its harvest season.

In the waters off Guanwu Village, Xiaocheng Town, rows of “kelp fields” stretch across the sea. Fishermen navigate their boats to the area, using cranes to lift kelp ropes, each about 5 meters long, from the water and onto their boats. The kelp is large, thick, and shines with a distinctive glow. “Each rope holds 150 kelp plants, and one rope weighs over 50 kilograms, so we need machines to harvest the kelp,” said Lin Zheliang, a kelp farmer from Guanwu Village, as beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Yet, his joy was unmistakable. “This is the locally developed ‘Huangguan No. 1’ high-yield variety, producing 25,000 kilograms per mu. With another two months of growth, the yield could reach 35,000 kilograms per mu.”

According to the information, Lianjiang fishermen primarily cultivate the locally developed “Huangguan No. 1” and “Minyou No. 1” kelp varieties. Known for their early maturity, high yield, and superior quality, these varieties are highly favored by coastal aquaculture farmers nationwide. This year, Lianjiang’s kelp planting area spans about 113,500 mu and has been included in the National High-quality Agricultural Brand Cultivation Program.

These proactive measures are closely linked to Lianjiang’s strong commitment to the big food concept, its adherence to the “science and technology-driven development” strategy, and its ongoing efforts to strengthen the fisheries industry’s ability to build a competitive edge. In recent years, Lianjiang has leveraged technology to empower the industry, strengthening collaborations with research institutions such as the Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences and the Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian. This has led to the development of high-quality kelp varieties and achieved full-chain development across seed breeding, aquaculture, processing, and sales.

Known as the “Home of Kelp in China,” Lianjiang is now the country’s largest pollution-free kelp seedling breeding base, accounting for 70% of Fujian’s and 50% of the nation’s total production. That means two out of every three kelp seedlings in China originate from here.

Processing:

Fresh seafood sees a surge in value

With its strong marine resources, Lianjiang is not only rich in fresh seafood but is also stepping up efforts in deep processing to broaden its market reach and grow its industry.

At the Lianjiang waterfront, the reporter saw tons of freshly harvested kelp being loaded onto trucks and immediately transported to processing facilities. There, the kelp undergoes multiple steps - blanching, dehydration, salting, shredding, and more - before being transformed into high-value-added products such as ready-to-eat kelp knots, quick-dry kelp, and crispy kelp snacks. These products are not only distributed across China but have also entered international markets.

“Last year, we partnered with a well-known restaurant chain and sold over 2,000 tons of kelp seedlings alone. Building on this strong sales momentum, we’ve continued to focus on kelp-based deep processing and product R&D, consistently launching new value-added products,” Qiu Weijie, General Manager of Fujian Yida Foods Co., Ltd., told the reporter. The second-phase project of Yida Foods has recently been successfully topped off, with production expected to begin in August. Once operational, it will process 8,000 tons of seaweed products annually, with an output value exceeding 80 million yuan and providing more than 200 job opportunities.

Supported by high-yield, high-quality, and efficient ecological farming models, Lianjiang’s seafood deep processing is progressing rapidly. The reporter learned that local industry leaders, such as Guanwu Seafood Development Co., Ltd., and Yida Foods, have leveraged government support to make the most of high-quality kelp varieties. They continuously drive technological innovation and collaborate with experts and academicians, integrating production, education, and research. These efforts have led to the establishment of production lines focused on kelp deep processing, resulting in a variety of ready-to-eat products, including kelp knots, kelp slices, kelp seedlings, kelp soup packs, kelp sprouts, as well as popular items like kelp cakes, kelp crisps, and kelp chips. What was once worth only a few jiao (10 jiao make 1 yuan) has now been transformed into food products valued at hundreds of yuan. These products have successfully entered major supermarkets like Yonghui and Pupu and are now being exported to Japan, South Korea, Europe, and the U.S.

Going global:

Innovative products are in high demand

“Going global” is also a key strategy for Lianjiang’s seafood development. Recently, local companies such as Xuhuang, Yida, Tianyuan, Ruiyun, and Tianyang brought their signature “Lianjiang-made” products such as kelp, fish balls, and razor clams to the 43rd Boston Seafood Expo in the U.S. There, they showcased their products alongside over 1,200 seafood companies from 51 countries and regions worldwide.

“Overseas exhibitions are not only key opportunities for companies to secure orders, but also vital platforms for boosting brand reputation and keeping up with the latest market trends. Every year, we gain new orders, and our repeat customer rate continues to grow,” said Qiu Weijie from Fujian Yida Foods Co., Ltd. This marks the company’s tenth participation in the Boston Expo. He added that the new kelp and jellyfish products showcased at the event had already secured contracts worth over 2 million US dollars, with several new clients still in negotiations.

“Going global means competing with similar products from around the world. To stand out, we must focus on innovation and exceptional quality. Going forward, we will leverage Lianjiang’s regional and industrial strengths to develop more kelp and jellyfish products that appeal to the tastes of European and American markets,” said Qiu Weijie.

At the Boston Seafood Expo, the booth of Fujian Tianyuan Aquatic Products Group, one of China’s top 500 agricultural enterprises, drew significant attention. The company’s innovative products, including compressed kelp, kelp seedlings, and newly introduced flavored kelp slices, were well-received for their convenience and authentic taste. North American customers highly commended Lianjiang’s low-salt processing technique and freshness-preserving technology, leading to nearly 300 tons of kelp product orders being secured. Among the orders are long-term procurement agreements with Chinese supermarkets and customized requests from North American chain restaurants. After sampling the products, many Chinese merchants couldn’t help but exclaim, “It tastes like home - truly authentic!”

“We promote economic and urban progress through industrial development. We have always encouraged local businesses to ‘go global together.’ This approach allows companies to support each other, amplify the regional brand effect, enhance their competitiveness, and drive differentiated development. It also helps to better promote Lianjiang products worldwide and firmly boost the city brand of ‘World’s Fishing Capital · Fuzhou Lianjiang,’” said a local official from Lianjiang County. (Fuzhou Daily Reporter: Lin Wenjing; Correspondents: Li Ningwei, Wu Qifa)