Countless floats are used to cultivate mussels off Gouqi Island in Shengsi county, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/IC]

From a 300-square-meter floating pontoon wharf -- on which stands a simple shed for tourists to fish from, have meals and learn about mussel farming -- Gouqi Island in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, has been working to turn mussel into a sixth industry.

The "sixth industry" concept, initiated by Japan in the 1990s, refers to a combination of the primary, secondary and tertiary industries. It is so named because one plus two and three equals six, and one multiplied by two times three also equals six. 

The floating pontoon wharf named "Natural Class" is part of a comprehensive tourism project being developed by Longquan village in Gouqi and marks the epitome of Gouqi's mussel farming development into a sixth industry.

Built in July 2018, "Natural Class" has now become a popular tourist destination. Surrounding farmers also offer mussel adopting and harvesting activities to tourists, who may adopt mussels online and come to pick them when the harvest season arrives.

According to Dai Jia, secretary of the discipline inspection commission of Gouqi township, the fundamental reason that Gouqi is developing a sixth industry is to raise the value-added of breeding sea products, increase local fishermen's incomes and revitalize the local economy. 

"Developing mussel farming into a sixth industry will help promote Gouqi and local companies," said Dai, adding that they will further promote the integration of mussel farming with tourism, industry, commerce and trade in the future.