The city of Zhuhai was awarded a plaque bearing the title "China Sea Bass Capital" by the China Aquatic Products Processing & Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA) on Nov 7.

As China's largest domestic sea bass base, Zhuhai contributes half of the country's supply and 70 percent of Guangdong province's production. In 2018, the city had a breeding area of 31,000 mu (2,067 hectares) with total output valued at 2.1 billion yuan ($301 million).

Award ceremony [Photo by Zeng Yao / Zhuhai Daily]

In addition to nationally protected geographical indications, the city has garnered accolades including Hometown of China Sea Bass and Predominant Area for Characterized Agricultural Products. Zhuhai was also named China's First Estuary Fishery Demonstration Zone.

A summit on China's sea bass aquaculture industry's green development and a meeting concerning order-placing were also held. Those in attendance included experts and scholars from CAPPMA, the Department of Agriculture & Rural Affairs of Guangdong Province, Flinders University of Australia, Ocean University of China, the Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, and others.

Cooperation agreements worth 830 million yuan ($119 million) were signed between 17 companies including Zhuhai Qiangjing Agriculture, Zhuhai Chenghuifeng Agricultural Science & Technology, and Zhuhai Jiyuan Aquatic Products.

The Guangdong Sea Bass Association was established during the award ceremony. Liu Qiang, president of Zhuhai Qiangjing Agriculture, was selected as its first chairman.