The aerial view of a sea farm in Zhoushan. [Photo/www.wifizs.cn]

In Xiaoguan'ao village of Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, rows of floating buoys dotted the blue sea, supporting ropes laden with oysters and scallops. 

A fishing boat returned loaded with oysters on Aug 25. The catch was lifted ashore and sorted with precision. Nearby, women washed and graded shellfish in the Gong Fu workshop, a hub that became central to the village's transition.

The shift began in 2019, when declining fishery resources and vessel reduction policies forced fishermen like Lu Xianmin to seek new livelihoods. With support from the local Party committee, Lu pioneered oyster farming and launched a workshop integrating farming, processing, and online and offline sales.

The workshop now produces 200 metric tons of oysters annually, creating jobs for more than 10 residents.

Encouraged by success, Lu has expanded into scallop farming, introducing a hardy and fast-growing golden scallop from Fujian. His oyster fields, spanning over 13 hectares, now yield over 1,500 kilograms per day, while a 3.33-hectare scallop pilot site shows strong market potential in the Yangtze River Delta region.

Xiaoguan'ao is building a multi-species aquaculture industry that shares resources, spreads risks, and delivers prosperity.