A drone feeds yellow croakers off Nanji Islands in Wenzhou's Pingyang county. [Photo/WeChat account: pyfb2016]
An agricultural drone is feeding 1.2 million large yellow croakers off Nanji Islands in Pingyang county, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, showcasing a shift toward unmanned, precise, and intelligent aquaculture.
Nanji Islands' unique marine environment has enhanced the quality of large yellow croakers farmed there, leading to 3,100 metric tons valued at 380 million yuan ($55.86 million) in 2025. Despite this success, the industry faces challenges such as limited space, reliance on external fry, and insufficiently robust facilities.
To address these issues, Pingyang is utilizing technology and quality standards to transition from selling by weight to selling by quality.
This year, Wenzhou Haipai Fisheries has adopted a drone feeding system that has tripled efficiency and reduced costs, while adapting to complex weather conditions.
Pingyang has replaced 90 percent of wooden net cages with deep-sea, wind-resistant alternatives and is pioneering submersible spherical cages, with the Nanji Marine Science and Technology Center aiming to achieve a breeding capacity of 2 million fries by 2027.
The new Technical Specification for Large Yellow Croaker Quality Grade Evaluation, which took effect in March, scientifically assesses both wild and farmed fish and is China's only evaluation standard for large yellow croaker quality.
China's first Large Yellow Croaker Quality Evaluation Laboratory is also under development in Pingyang and plans to utilize advanced technologies for rapid, non-destructive testing and traceable quality profiles.
With over 30 stores and a presence in European markets, Nanji's large yellow croaker is expanding its market reach, bolstered by the comprehensive development of its industry chain.
