Putuo, a district in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, recently published preferential policies to attract marine professionals, local media reported on March 8.

Over the following five years, the district is expected to attract and cultivate more than 100 leading talent in the marine industry, over 5,000 skilled marine personnel, 200,000 university graduates, as well as 800 agriculture entrepreneurs.

Putuo will also help increase the income of 8,000 local farmers during the period.

Local marine companies that employ talent who have won national or provincial recognition will receive a maximum reward of 300,000 yuan ($47,000) per person.

University graduates are encouraged to start businesses centered on island tourism and rural e-commerce in Putuo.

First-time entrepreneurs will receive a subsidy of up to 100,000 yuan three years after they obtain business licenses in Putuo. Those entrepreneurs that run their businesses in rural areas for over a year and hire more than 10 employees will receive another subsidy of 10,000 yuan.

People with a master's degree or above and who work for companies in Putuo over the following five years will receive subsidies for housing purchase and settlement.