Analyzing Industrialization of Deep-Sea Cage Mariculture in China: Review and Performance

Abstract

China effectively utilizes industrialization to enhance the productivity growth of deep-sea cage mariculture. This study reviews the industrialization of deep-sea cage mariculture in China, focusing on three sectors: small-scale cage mariculture, large-scale cage mariculture, and ocean-engineering cage mariculture, based on different productivity levels. The industrialization process is divided into three phases, considering technology development, transformation, and adoption. The performance of each phase is analyzed, revealing that Chinese intensive management of production element resources has led to the successful cultivation of domestic salmon and the development of various open net cage systems, ultimately promoting industrialization of the upstream sectors. It is worth noting that China has close business relations with Norway and Brunei. Despite these successes, some shortcomings still exist, including low profits and the risk of oligopoly formation among mariculture enterprises, which can oversaturate the livelihoods of fishermen.