The province of Shandong has been ramping up efforts to become a marine powerhouse during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).

According a recent news conference held by the Information Office of Shandong Provincial Government, the comprehensive strength of Shandong's marine economy has been ranked among the top in China over the past five years.

In 2019, the province's gross ocean production reached 1.46 trillion yuan ($223.38 billion), with a year-on-year growth of 9 percent and ranking second in China. Its share of the province's GDP rose from 19.7 percent in 2015 to 20.5 percent in 2019.

As the only comprehensive pilot province for marine ranching construction in China, Shandong now is home to 105 marine ranching demonstration zones (projects) above the provincial level, including 44 at the national level, accounting for 40 percent of the national total and ranking first in China.

The Genghai No 1, China's first ecological marine ranch platform that is situated in Yantai, a coastal city in Shandong, was recently been put into operation. The large-scale fish farm makes use of artificial intelligence, 5G and big data to perform fish breeding, marine biology and research. The facility is also engaged in tourism.

Located off the coast of Yantai, the Genghai No 1 is a large-scale fish farm that makes use of artificial intelligence, 5G and big data to achieve fish breeding, marine biology and research. [Photo/China Daily]

The Shandong Port Group has also witnessed rapid development over the past five years. According to local authorities, its port handling capacity is ranked the second in China, with its output value of marine transportation exceeding 120 billion yuan in 2019. 

From January to October this year, the Shandong Port Group achieved a cargo throughput of 1.19 billion tons, a year-on-year growth of 7.7 percent, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group has established friendly ties with 34 international ports and opened more than 300 container lines, including more than 200 foreign trade lines.

The province has also expanded its land-sea transport systems, with 69 sea-rail combined transport lines.

Ships get ready for their voyages at the foreign trade container terminal of Qingdao port in Shandong province. [Photo by Yu Fangping/For China Daily]

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, Shandong also accelerated the development of high-end marine equipment manufacturing. Three manufacturing bases for ship repair and construction, marine heavy industry and offshore oil equipment manufacturing have been established in the province.

The province also has a competitive marine bio-pharmaceutical industry, with an output value of more than 20 billion yuan, accounting for about half of the country's total.