Huzhou galvanizes aquaculture with tech, eco-friendly practices

Large tanks equipped with intelligent aquaculture systems are set up in an orderly manner in Huzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

Huzhou city in East China's Zhejiang province, a major freshwater aquaculture hub in the country, is fully embracing innovative and sustainable practices in its aquaculture sector.

At Zhejiang Dongyu Biotechnology Company in Huzhou's Nanxun district, over 100 large tanks have been equipped with intelligent aquaculture systems. These systems include oxygenation devices, real-time water quality sensors, temperature control devices, and a wastewater recycle system.

The wastewater recycle system purifies the wastewater and then returns it to the tank for reuse. In addition, the collected waste is repurposed as organic fertilizer for nearby rice fields.

In Wuxing district, Zhejiang Yunhong Ecological Agriculture Technology Company is revolutionizing fish farming by using robotics.

Veteran fish farmer Li Xiaobin now relies on robots for precise feeding and monitoring, drastically reducing labor and enhancing efficiency.

The mobile rectangular tanks, used by Zhejiang Yunhong, produce 40 to 50 kilograms of fish per cubic meter annually, far surpassing traditional methods.

In Changxing county, the integration of rice and frog farming is exemplifying sustainable agricultural innovation. The co-culture farming system reduces pesticide use and enhances productivity.

The model has expanded to other regions, significantly boosting the incomes of farmers.

Huzhou's shift from traditional aquaculture to eco-friendly practices resulted in an output value at its fisheries of 10.12 billion yuan ($1.41 billion) in 2024, representing a 5.7 percent year-on-year increase.