An aerial photo of Lianjiang national abalone breeding demonstration base. [Photo by Yang Liuzhou/fjsen.com]

Lianjiang county in Fuzhou, Fujian province announced the completion of a 15,000 tons marine fishery carbon sink trade valued at 120,000 yuan ($18,872.97) on Jan 11, which represents China's first marine fishery carbon sink trade.

The marine fishery carbon sink refers to a general term for fishery production activities that promote aquatic organisms' absorption of carbon dioxide in water bodies in order to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere, water acidity and slow down climate change and global warming.

The trade was supported and verified by the Third Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Lianjiang county is located on the eastern coast of Fujian Province, covering 4,280 square kilometers with a 238-km coastline. Its sea area covers 3,112 sq km, which is 2.7 times the land area. The county is famous for abalone and seaweed.

The county is estimated to produce about 400,000 tons of carbon sinks every year by marine aquaculture and the economic value of tradable carbon sinks is up to 960 million yuan.

In order to further promote the development of the marine economy of Lianjiang county, the county government also signed a cooperation agreement with the Third Institute of Oceanography on Jan 11.

Both sides will cooperate on marine ecological protection and restoration, major marine construction projects, the innovative development of the marine industrial economy, and promoting and applying marine scientific and technological achievements.