Aquatic Seed Farm

Aquatic Seed Farm

The Hongze Aquatic Seed Farm is situated on the scenic eastern shore of Hongze Lake, west of the Erhe Sluice, a critical node of the Huai River’s seaward channel, and approximately 10 kilometers from downtown Hongze County. During the 1985 administrative division of Hongze Lake, the Hongze County Party Committee, County Government, and County Aquatic Bureau planned ahead. With support from the United Nations FAO’s China Project 2633, 1,659 mu of land was acquired from Xishunhe Town, and after multi-level investments from the Ministry of Agriculture, provincial, municipal, and county governments, the farm was expanded into a state-owned aquatic seed farm. It is categorized as an agricultural and forestry farm and operates under the Hongze County Aquatic Bureau. In December 1999, it was approved by the former Jiangsu Provincial Aquatic Bureau as a provincial-level seed farm for Fangzheng Silver Crucian Carp and Xingguo Red Carp. In 2001, it was further authorized by the Jiangsu Provincial Oceanic and Fishery Bureau as the “Hongze Lake Aquaculture Science Experimental Farm” and the “Hongze Lake Stocking Fingerling Base.” In May 2002, the Hongze Aquatic Seed Introduction and Breeding Center of the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, was established here. In February 2006, it was accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture as a national-level aquatic seed farm. The farm currently has 880 mu of breeding water surface, one set of fish fry artificial propagation facilities, and two multi-functional temperature-controlled greenhouses for seedling cultivation and finished product farming — one spanning 3,680 m² and another solar greenhouse covering 600 m². Its infrastructure, production facilities, and broodstock reserves rank among the best in the province and even the nation. Each year, it supplies over 1 billion high-quality fry of “the four major domestic fishes” and other aquatic species to society. Among these, the improved silver crucian carp and channel catfish fry are the farm’s flagship products, earning the trust of farmers and consumers through their quality and reputation. Products are sold nationwide. Additionally, the farm releases 100,000 kg of fish stock into Hongze Lake annually, along with over 10 million summer fingerlings of common fish species and some crab seedlings. This contributes nearly 100 million yuan in additional income for local fishing and farming households around Hongze Lake each year, delivering substantial social benefits. The farm also generates over 500,000 yuan in economic benefits annually.

The farm will continue to rely on the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Jiangsu Provincial Fisheries Technology Extension Station as its technical backbones. It strives to become a top-tier, nationally recognized non-polluting aquatic product farming base and aquatic seed breeding center in China — featuring complete facilities, advanced equipment, cutting-edge technology, premium products, a beautiful environment, and remarkable efficiency. It aims to establish itself as a base for introducing new aquatic species, demonstrating and promoting new technologies, providing training, and offering science education for primary and secondary school students. Moreover, it seeks to develop into a modern seed production base that integrates ecological farming, facility-based aquaculture, fishing, tourism, and sightseeing.