Yantai, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province is accelerating marine ranch construction. Several marine ranch projects have been initiated in the city this year and nearly 20 are being built.

According to the "National Construction Plan for Marine Ranch Demonstration Zone (2017-2025)" delivered in 2017, China is to build 178 national marine ranch demonstration zones and Longkou, Penglai, Changdao, Zhifu district and Muping district in Yantai are on the list.

A marine ranch is a certain sea area in which fishermen adapt large-scale fishery facilities and systematic management systems to use the natural marine environment to raise marine resources including fish, shrimp, shellfish and algae. It is just like grazing flocks and herds on a farm.

Yantai rolled out strategies to develop offshore marine ranch equipment such as multi-functional ocean ranch platforms and to build an intelligent, informative and diversified management system.

Yantai-based CIMC Raffles has delivered a series of high-end marine fishery equipment such as self-elevating and semi-submersible multi-functional management platforms and deep water network box management platforms, as well as a deep water aquaculture ship. These platforms integrate six functions including monitoring, management supply, and environmental protection.

Some companies have invested in construction of marine ranches in Yantai. Shandong Oriental Ocean Co built a semi-submersible multi-functional marine ranch management platform and launched it this year.

Yantai Qingquan Marine Technology Co developed a compound marine ranch and marine artificial reef cluster with an investment of more than 50 million yuan ($8.06 million) to restore coastal facilities.

Semi-submersible Platform Connection System at Yantai marine ranch [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Marine ranch offshore platform [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]