In recent news from Zhongshan on October 26, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs convened a site meeting focused on “Learning and Promoting the Experience of Tailwater Management in Fish Ponds in Zhongshan to Promote High-Quality Development of Green Ecological Aquaculture.”
During the meeting, participants had the opportunity to visit two specific tailwater management projects: the standard “Three Ponds, Two Dams” project at Fengfu Lake and the simplified ecological tailwater management project at Huashanwei in Nanlang Street. Attendees examined the conditions and learned about the differences in management models, as well as details regarding project construction, investment, operation, and effectiveness.
As a leading province in aquaculture, Guangdong consistently ranks first in total aquaculture output in China. In 2023, the province produced 9.24 million tons of aquatic products, with aquaculture contributing 7.96 million tons. Guangdong boasts approximately 7.16 million acres of aquaculture area, of which around 5.12 million acres are dedicated to pond farming, highlighting its significance as the primary production method in the region.
To strengthen the integration throughout the aquaculture process, some enterprises in Guangdong are actively exploring innovative approaches. For instance, certain companies are optimizing the “Three Ponds, Two Dams” treatment model to facilitate water recycling in aquaculture. Others are developing a multi-nutritional layer farming model featuring shrimp, fish, algae, and shellfish, which reduces feed and waste pollution during the farming process while also enhancing profitability.
In 2023, Zhongshan ranked fourth in freshwater product output in Guangdong, with a fishery production value exceeding 9.6 billion yuan. Brands such as Xiaolan Crisp Meat Fish and Sanjiao Live Fish have gained national acclaim, with Xiaolan and Sanjiao being recognized as the “Hometowns of Crisp Meat Fish” and “Hometowns of Live Fish,” respectively. Addressing the challenges of tailwater management, Zhongshan’s Vice Mayor Ouyang Jinquan stated that the city has integrated tailwater management into the top legislative agenda with a focus on advancing initiatives; to date, an area of 78,000 acres has been addressed.
Xie Jun, a researcher at the Pearl River Fishery Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to fish pond tailwater management, considering effectiveness, cost, and sustainability. He advocated for increased investment in the research and innovation of tailwater treatment technologies.
Liu Zonghui, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, stressed the importance of promoting green ecological farming models throughout the province. He urged the effective utilization of various policies to explore the establishment of a long-term, stable tailwater treatment mechanism that meets standards, while also emphasizing the need for regular pond dredging to optimize the farming environment.
Looking ahead, Guangdong plans to rapidly disseminate tailwater treatment technologies across the province, strengthen organizational leadership and inter-departmental collaboration, and enhance technological innovation to support the upgrading of the aquaculture industry. The province aims to foster a cooperative environment involving government initiatives, active participation from aquaculture stakeholders, and widespread support from society for the green ecological high-quality development of the fishing industry.
