A new breeding program has helped the northern Chinese city of Yantai nearly double the value of its seafood industry within a year.
More than $3 million was invested by the city government last year to increase the breeding of shrimp, jellyfish and shuttle crabs, increasing volumes to 12,000 tons and gross domestic product to $3 million in August and September, up 93 percent compared to a year ago, according to Yantai's statistics bureau.
Yantai is Shandong 's largest export city, with total 2007 seafood exports of $220 million. Its main markets are Japan, South Korea, Russia and Europe. Products include frozen fish meat, sleeve-fish, shrimp and dried crab and fresh seafood, which make up a third of total exports.
Following the breeding program, bass, cod, plaice, swellfish and octopus have also become main export products.
Nearly 40 companies are registered to export seafood products to Europe, and more than 20 companies are registered to export to the United States and Korea.
They include Yantai Tedfoods Co., which mainly sells Argentina sleeve-fish, North Pacific sleeve-fish, Arrow sleeve-fish, bass and scallops; Yantai Joint Foods Enterprise; and Yantai Longxiang Food Co.
Wudi, another city in the province, is also launching a new breeding program to increase the production of Philippine clam.
The move follows the announcement by Shandong province's government earlier this month of environmental policies to help improve the competitiveness of its seafood industry.
