Digital technology improves fish farming in Huzhou's Nanxun

Circular fish-farming tanks at an aquaculture facility in Nanxun district, Huzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

Nanxun district in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, is modernizing aquaculture through digital technology and professional training. Its "smart fish farmer" initiative now covers more than 3,000 aquaculture households and supports over 10,000 people working in the sector.

More than 800 land-based circular tanks are now used in place of traditional ponds, while digital monitoring and control systems have been introduced in 33 aquaculture villages. Internet of Things (IoT) technology is used in 85 percent of local aquaculture operations.

One example is Qingyutang, a digital fish farm founded in 2016 by Nanxun native Shen Jie. Its IoT system monitors pond conditions, reducing night patrol workloads by 80 percent and increasing returns per mu by about 20 percent. The system covers more than 200,000 mu (13,333 hectares) of fish ponds across the Yangtze River Delta region.

Other farms use automated feeding, water-quality monitoring, and recirculating aquaculture systems. At one facility, solid fish waste is converted into organic fertilizer, treated water is returned to fish tanks, and purified wastewater is used to irrigate nearby rice fields.

The initiative also aims to share the benefits of modernization. The renovation of 3,200 mu of fish ponds in Linghu town has increased average returns per mu by 30 percent, helping participating households raise their annual income.

By combining digital technology, efficient farming, and local employment, Nanxun is working to improve aquaculture while creating more opportunities for rural residents.