4. Marine Pasture

4.1. The Importance of Establishing Marine Pastures

The depletion of marine fishery resources can be attributed to the rapid expansion of the modern fishing industry and its unsustainable practices. This issue is further exacerbated by terrestrial pollution that harms the marine ecological environment. Evidence of this can be seen in phenomena such as increased seawater eutrophication, habitat degradation of marine organisms, and the decline of marine ecosystems [139]. In today’s world, the marine fishery industry is still clinging to antiquated development methods, unable to keep up with the need for top‐notch seafood and a thriving marine ecosystem. This significantly hinders China’s efforts to implement a sustainable development strategy for its marine economy [140]. It is widely recognized that marine aquatic products provide the highest quality of animal proteins. In China, marine aquatic products are a vital food source, offering the population access to high‐quality animal proteins. Establishing “blue granaries” and developing marine pastures presents an innovative approach to fisheries production that aligns with the nation’s goals of restoring marine fishery resources and promoting sustainable economic development. Marine pastures can potentially improve the scientific utilization of marine resources, advance a low‐carbon marine economy, and effectively preserve marine fisheries resources [141].

Marine pastures hold great promise for preserving aquatic biodiversity and improving marine water quality and ecosystems. Additionally, the groundbreaking model for marine fishery production is essential in improving the effectiveness of fishery production and bringing traditional practices into the modern era. The creation of national marine pasture demonstration zones will help the offshore fishing sector secure private investments and expedite the growth of China’s marine pasture industry. This will help propel Chinese marine conservation efforts to advance swiftly and effectively [140].

4.2. The Current Status of Marine Pasture Development in China

The development of Chinese marine pastures has a rich history spanning over 30 years. The end of 2019 saw China successfully establish 10 batches of 110 national marine pasture demonstration areas in important regions like the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, South China Sea, and East China Sea, based on agricultural data reports, covering a vast area exceeding 200,000 hectares (Table 3). In the near future, there are big goals to finish another 178 national marine pasture demonstration area projects by 2025 [142]. Currently, 11 coastal provinces in China proudly showcase national marine pasture demonstration areas, with Shandong Province taking the lead in investment and construction speed. The impressive Shandong Province now hosts a remarkable 44 national marine pasture demonstration areas, making up 40% of the nation’s total [143]. Artificial reefs, bottom planting, breeding programs, and the subsequent release of marine life are key components in the current construction strategy for marine pasture demonstration areas. However, these methods have a noticeable lack of modernization [142]. The management of marine pasture demonstration areas by marine authorities is somewhat lacking, with oversight often falling under fisheries management. Seafood in the marine pasture primarily consists of shellfish, such as abalone and scallops. Public welfare marine pasture initiatives rely heavily on governmental marine agencies for oversight. Artificial reefs are a key component in these strategies, along with efforts to breed and reintroduce species, with the overarching objective of replenishing marine life and promoting a healthier ocean environment [144].

Constructions | Benefits | Achievements
Requirements for building | Develop the fishing sector by integrating fishery stock improvement, ecological rejuvenation, leisure experiences, tourist attractions, heritage conservation, science education dissemination, and public relations | Creating fresh innovations to support the holistic progression and enduring strength of the oceanic economy, alongside enhancing naval prowess
Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea area construction status at present | With an investment of 4.452 billion yuan, the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea region established 148 marine ranches spanning 346.7 square kilometers and placed 18.054 million cubic meters of artificial reefs | An intricate system has been developed, incorporating artificial reefs for cultivating sea delicacies, conserving fish populations, nurturing seaweed growth, supporting abalones and sea cucumbers, and promoting recreational fishing
The ongoing construction situation in the East China Sea region | The East China Sea region had committed 383 million yuan to develop marine ranches, establishing 23 across 235.7 square kilometers and introducing 700,000 cubic meters of artificial reefs, expanding the artificial reef zones to cover 206.2 square kilometers | A new marine ranch model has been developed that combines artificial reefs, seaweed beds, and various aquatic species to create a three‐dimensional structure
The present state of construction in Nanhai District | Nanhai District allocated 745 million yuan towards developing marine ranches, creating 74 ranches spanning 270.2 square kilometers, placing 42.191 million cubic meters of artificial reefs, and forming artificial reef zones covering 256.6 square kilometers | Ecological protection

4.3. The Construction of Functional Modules

The construction of functional modules is crucial to the contemporary marine pasture technology. This technology encompasses fishery cultivation, ecological conservation, and the development of marine infrastructure, all of which require high technical standards. Modular design is essential for the Marine Pasture project, as it enables the independent construction of various functional modules, including ecological restoration, fishery development, marine environment monitoring, marine tourism, shore, and marine storm warning. These functional modules can then be combined to form the Marine Pasture Project [1]. The use of modular design offers numerous benefits, including reduced marine construction time and reduced risk costs. For example, the competent Department of Marine Pasture can focus on constructing the marine storm warning function module using unified module construction standards. This allows for adding the marine storm warning function module to enterprise construction projects, ensuring that the competent Department of Marine can fulfill their marine storm warning responsibilities without incurring additional monitoring costs. Additionally, enterprises can receive timely marine storm warning information [140]. The marine ranching construction plan in China, including details on its benefits and achievements, is presented in Table 3.