China to Establish First Seafood Cluster

China plans to establish the country's first seafood industry cluster in the northeastern port city of Tianjin.

The move to create a virtual circle linking education, R&D, marketing, tourism and the breeding industry aims to boost competitiveness and develop new processes and products as the country's exports continue to decline.

According to www.seafoodchina.com, the project will begin this year and be completed by 2011, creating the largest base of its kind in the country. No figure has been revealed as to the amount of investment.

It will feature three key activities: developing innovative breeding companies; a communications center to develop new products; and, in a bid to boost tourism, a seafood resort.

The target is to set up 10 innovative breeding companies, using recycled water breeding technology and 10 industrial and logistics companies each with an annual turnover of $130 million.

Local colleges will also be involved in developing the new breeding technology with the aim of developing 10 new innovations over the next three years. The seafood resort, which will include an Ocean Technology Exhibition, bathing and spa areas and indoor fishing, aims to attract 100,000 visitors a year.