Around the Mid-Autumn Festival, Sanmen green crabs are at their richest and most flavorful. At the farming base in the Dongying Economic and Technological Development Zone, the team is busy packing and shipping these premium crabs to destinations nationwide.

A farmer in the Dongying Economic and Technological Development Zone harvest a large quantity of Sanmen green crabs. [Photo/Wechat account:dyetdz]

Sanmen green crabs, typically found in the coastal waters of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces, are now being successfully farmed in Dongying.

A Sanmen green crab cultivated in the Dongying Economic and Technological Development Zone. [Photo/Wechat account:dyetdz]

"We mix seawater from Guangli Port with water from the Bohai Bay and Yellow River to create the ideal salinity for the growth of Sanmen green crabs," said Zhang Zhenyou, head of a local agricultural company.

To overcome farming challenges, the development zone has been actively involved, working closely with businesses and farmers. They provide real-time updates on farming conditions and enhance technical support in areas such as seed selection, feeding, and water quality. They also facilitate the exchange of expertise by bringing in skilled technicians from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian to collaborate with local farmers, advancing aquaculture techniques in the zone.

The crab farming base in the Dongying Economic and Technological Development Zone. [Photo/Wechat account:dyetdz]

After more than five years of improvements, the local agricultural company has successfully established Sanmen green crab farming in the development zone. The farming area has expanded from 200 hectares to nearly 666.67 hectares, with a yield of about 50 kilograms per 0.06 hectre. By implementing a "company + base + farmer" model, the company has encouraged nearby farmers to join the Sanmen green crab industry, leading to a more concentrated and intensive farming approach. This has resulted in the creation of the city's first large Sanmen green crab farming base.

This advancement not only diversifies the region's aquaculture offerings but also increases the incomes of local farmers and significantly enhances the quality and efficiency of marine fisheries.