Fish farming moves ashore as Qiandao Lake embraces smart aquaculture

Workers harvest from a circular onshore breeding pool. [Photo/WeChat account: hznync]

Qiandao Lake in Chun'an county is accelerating a shift from traditional net-cage fishing to smart, land-based aquaculture, marking a new chapter in the development of sustainable freshwater fisheries.

Across the lakeside, circular onshore breeding pools equipped with sensors, AI monitoring and recirculating water systems are replacing conventional floating cages. These systems track water quality and fish behavior in real time, recycle more than 97 percent of water, and significantly reduce environmental pressure on the lake.

Pilot projects such as the county's first smart fish warehouse in Weiping town have demonstrated both ecological and economic gains, delivering high yields with minimal labor while increasing income for local villages. Larger-scale bases in Dashu town further integrate solar power with aquaculture, cutting energy costs and boosting efficiency.

An app tracks water quality and fish behavior in real time. [Photo/WeChat account: hznync]

At the core of this transition is the Qiandao Lake Smart Fish Valley, a 1.02-billion-yuan ($144.7 million) project that broke ground on Dec 15. Once completed, it will form a full industrial chain spanning R&D, breeding, processing and cold-chain logistics, with an expected annual output of 20 million kilograms of aquatic products, worth over 700 million yuan.

Local officials said the move from water-based to controlled, land-based farming represents a strategic upgrade from protecting water through restrictions placed on fishing to introducing water for smart production, offering a replicable model for balancing ecological protection with rural vitalization.

A breeding base is equipped with rooftop photovoltaic panels. [Photo/WeChat account: hznync]