Over the past five years,the output of aquatic products has kept an annual growth rate of about four per cent with continuously improved product mix and steadily raised quality and safety, which has ensured effective and safe supply of these products. It is expected that the total output may reach 53.50 million tons in 2010, the value of total output top 1,200 billion yuan (CNY), and per capita average income come up to CNY8,963 with annual average growth rate of 8.8 per cent.
Increased policy measures to support fisheries and benefit fishermen
Incomplete statistics show that funds from the central government for fisheries in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan has increased by 700 per cent over the Tenth Five-Year Plan period that has totaled up to CNY37 billion with focus on subsidies for fishery policy enforcement, fishing harbours, preservation of resources, multiplication of improved breeds and livelihoods of fishermen. Governments at all levels have given more attention to fishermen's welfare through increasing subsidies for diesel for fishing vessels and fishery insurance premium, ensuring subsistence allowances of poor fishermen and resettlement of fishermen on land. The policy on diesel subsidies that has introduced in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period has helped relieve fishermen's financial burden imposed by sharp increase of diesel prices.
Improved industrial structure
In the process of development, industries in this field have attached closer attention to improvement of quality and benefits as well as preservation and sustainable use of resources. To this end, good practices of aquaculture have been introduced. All together, more than 10 million mu of fish ponds have been transformed; 17 aquatic genetics and breeding centre, 312 aquatic seed-stock farms and 1771 standardised fishing demonstration farms/areas have been established, which has promoted rapid development of intensified fishing farming practices and raised the ratio of fishing farming and catching from 66:34 to 71:29.
The domestic fish catching sector has remained stable and in good order as a result of improved structure of fishing vessels. Deep-sea fishing has continued to improve its structure. As a result, the ratio of high seas fishery has increased from 46 per cent to 58 per cent.
Processing capacity of aquatic products has been increased by over 30 per cent, and international standards on quality of processed products have been adopted step by step. Vigorously developed pet-fish farming has become a new highlight in stimulating growth of fishmen's income and satisfying diversified consumer needs. For five consecutive years, the acceptance rate of aquatic products tested at producing places has been over 96 per cent along with steadily improved quality and safety.
Progress made in all respects of preservation of aquatic resources
Releasing aquatic organism for enhancement purpose has made remarkable progress. Up to now, a total of CNY2.097 billion has been invested for such purpose, and 108.99 billion fry of various species have been released. Over these years, regional small-scale releasing has developed into nationwide large-scale one, making tremendous benefits ecologically, economically and socially.
The fishing moratorium system for marine summer season and the Yangzi River has been improved and consolidated. Four new national nature reserves have been set up, bringing the total to 16, and 220 national aquatic germplasm reserves are under establishment. Rapid progress has been made in developing marine pastures and artificial fish reefs.
Increased capability for comprehensive management in fisheries
The Real Right Law 2007 identifies the attribute of fish farming right and fishing right. In accordance with this law, the Ministry of Agriculture has issued and implemented the Measures for Licensing and Registration of Aquaculture in Waters and Shoals, organised work related to fishery planning of waters and shoals as well as licensing, carried out law enforcement on quality and safety of aquatic products and on fish farming.
Reform has been carried out in fishery statistics system. A network for collection of fishery basic information has been put in place, the commanding system of fishery policy enforcement and the national communication network of marine fishery safety have been established and put into extensive use. In all, 528 new vessels for fishery law enforcement have been built, bringing the total to 2,287.
