China’s Su Hai No.1 begins first commercial harvest.
China’s first large-scale salmon farming vessel, Su Hai No.1, has begun harvesting its first commercial crop of Atlantic salmon, according to the Global Times, marking a milestone in the country’s efforts to expand domestic salmon production.
The 100,000-ton-class vessel started harvesting fish this week in waters off Weihai, Shandong Province, after entering service in December 2025. The first batch of smolts was transferred onboard following initial land-based production and has since been grown in fully enclosed deep-sea farming tanks.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, the vessel is equipped with 15 enclosed aquaculture tanks providing an effective farming volume of 83,000 cubic metres. Once fully operational, it is expected to produce more than 8,000 tonnes of salmon annually, with projected annual output exceeding 500 million yuan (EUR 65 million).
Su Hai No.1 combines aquaculture production with onboard processing. Fish are harvested, slaughtered, pre-cooled and packaged at sea before being transported ashore for further processing, a model intended to reduce delivery times and maintain product freshness.
The vessel also operates as a mobile farming platform, allowing operators to relocate according to water temperatures, ocean currents and weather conditions, including avoiding typhoons and harmful algal blooms.
According to the Global Times, the platform incorporates automated feeding systems and real-time digital monitoring of fish performance and environmental conditions, enabling year-round production.
China remains heavily dependent on imported Atlantic salmon, with industry estimates suggesting more than 80% of domestic consumption is supplied by overseas producers. Chinese officials and industry representatives say projects such as Su Hai No.1 are intended to strengthen domestic production capacity and reduce reliance on imports over the longer term.
The vessel was built by China State Shipbuilding Corp’s Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Co. and delivered in 2025.
