China’s National Fisheries Extension has hired thousands of trainers and researchers as it scrambles to improve quality and efficiency of its aquaculture sector.
The organization’s headcount has soared to 40,000 employees spread over 14,000 institutions, with technical staff accounting for 72 percent of the headcount. That’s according to a document summarizing the achievements during the twelfth Five Year Plan, China’s economic blueprint that ran from 2011 to 2015.
According to the document, China “has formed a huge scientific research system,” with the backbone of research efforts occurring at the National Academy of Fishery Sciences and at nine aquatic research institutes– each with an average staff count of 4,000.
In addition, there are 38 provincial fisheries science institutes and 60 municipal fisheries research institutes spread across Chinese cities nationwide.
Chinese researchers have struggled in recent years to come up with new varieties in shrimp and tilapia, while overstocking of both species at the farm level has caused severe quality problems for the industry. The massive hiring increase is meant to address those issues.
