Beyond Seafood: What Else Does Guangdong Seek from the Sea?

On June 6, 2025, the latest

Guangdong Marine Economy Development Report was released.

It revealed a milestone:

In 2024, Guangdong's gross ocean product officially surpassed ¥2 trillion,

Marking the 30th consecutive year the province has led the nation.

As the saying goes,

"Mountains and seas sustain those who live by them."

With the longest coastline of any Chinese province,

Guangdong holds natural advantages in marine development.

When Zhuhai, Shantou, and Shenzhen became China's first coastal Special Economic Zones in 1980

Reform-driven momentum began fuelling Guangdong's marine industry.

Since 1995,

Guangdong has held a firm lead in the country's marine economy,

And it has stayed there for 30 straight years.

During this time,

Not only has the size of Guangdong's marine economy scaled relentlessly,

Its industrial structure has also continued to evolve.

The tertiary sector’s share,

Surged from 37% in 2000,

To 66% in 2024, reflecting Guangdong’s pivot from volume to value.

In addition,

This evolution revitalizes,

Traditional sectors,

While nurturing emerging ones.

When people think of marine industries,

They often think first of fish farming.

Aquaculture once relied on inefficient,

Storm-vulnerable coastal cages.

Today, deep-water cages,

Often submerged more than 20 meters deep,

Boast tens to hundreds of times,

More capacity than older models.

As of May 2024,

Guangdong led China with

Over 5,000 gravity-based deep-water cages,

Ranking first in both

Number and capacity.

Thanks to this leap in aquaculture,

Guangdong's marine farming output reached 3.77 million tons in 2024,

A year-on-year growth of 5.47%,

Its highest growth rate in a decade.

Guangdong's marine economy,

Extends far beyond its "traditional industries."

It’s also expanding into

High-potential new sectors,

Including marine electronics and information, offshore wind power, marine biomedicine, and ocean engineering equipment.

These are now pivotal to Guangdong's development strategy.

In 2024, the added value of Guangdong's emerging marine industries reached 41.1 billion CNY,

An 8% nominal increase from the previous year.

Their contribution to the marine economy continues to strengthen,

Rising to 5.6% of the total marine industry value-added.

Among these, offshore wind power

Has seen remarkable progress:

From Guangdong's first project in 2016,

Installed capacity

Soared to 12 GW within just eight years,

Securing the top national rank.

Looking ahead,

Guangdong's "blue blueprint" is still expanding.

The province has designated a 44,000 sq km marine development zone,

Which covers 68% of the province-managed sea territory.

It holds

Vast potential for future growth.

Three decades of leadership,

Is not just Guangdong's legacy,

But a launchpad for its next chapter.

Backed by policy support,

This azure land charges toward,

A"blue future" abundant in possibilities,

At full throttle.