In a recent visit to Aojiao Village, located in the coastal area of Dongshan County, Fujian Province, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the significance of leveraging local strengths to enhance the seafood industry’s development. The picturesque village, with its sky-high clouds and vigorous sea breeze, was bustling on October 15 as fishing boats returned to port, laden with fresh catches.
During this visit, General Secretary Xi explored the local dock, examining the variety of seafood and dried products available. He expressed his satisfaction at witnessing the transformative changes in the village since his last visit 23 years ago, when he worked in Fujian. “To promote rural revitalization, we need to focus on our strengths and truly make our mark in the marine sector,” he remarked.
This message resonated deeply with the local fishermen. Xu Xiaobin, a fisherman in Aojiao Village, shared that the community feels more motivated than ever. When we caught up with Xu on October 17, he was hard at work, unloading baskets of fish, eel, squid, and shrimp from the boats.
Interestingly, Xu does not fit the typical image of a fisherman. Just a few years ago, he was a businessman in a suit and tie. “After graduating from university, I worked for nearly a decade in Fuzhou and Xiamen,” Xu explained. However, in 2018, he made the bold decision to return to Aojiao Village and venture into the seafood e-commerce business. Initially, his mother strongly opposed the idea, fearing he would face hardships like those his father experienced as a fisherman who once narrowly escaped a devastating storm at sea.
Xu’s hesitation was understandable, given the village’s past challenges, including a lack of greenery and poor selling conditions for its fresh seafood, which had led many villagers to engage in pig farming, resulting in a polluted environment. Yet, he realized that Aojiao Village was no longer the same.
Since 2016, some fishermen had embraced the online market, transforming their livelihoods through e-commerce. “Business has been thriving, with many fishermen successfully transitioning to this model,” Xu noted.
Beyond commerce, the village has implemented initiatives to improve its ecological environment. They’ve established uniform systems for managing waste and sewage on land while designating aquaculture zones at sea. These efforts have revived the village’s natural beauty, bringing back clear blue waters and abundant wildlife.
Modern fishing boats have replaced older wooden vessels, equipped with advanced navigation systems for greater safety at sea. Aojiao Village has also developed breeding bases for abalone, shrimp, kelp, and nori, allowing fishermen to move away from relying solely on the whims of nature.
Xu’s eventual return to Aojiao was driven by a strong conviction in the village’s potential. He began by familiarizing himself with different seafood species and learning processing techniques from experienced fishermen. He formed a team with relatives and friends, and together they tapped into various sales channels, achieving impressive results—by September this year, their online and offline sales had already exceeded 5 million yuan.
Currently, Aojiao Village boasts 117 e-commerce enterprises, employing over 500 people in the industry. The local government actively supports this growth by hosting regular meetings to hear from businesses and resolve their concerns. Moreover, they have developed a platform to promote local industries and facilitate partnerships with educational institutions for talent training, while also negotiating lower shipping costs with logistics companies. Thanks to the internet, Aojiao’s seafood is now delivered to households nationwide, with a remarkable sales figure of 350 million yuan last year.
With the marine industry flourishing, the village is evolving. Offshore, there are now 1,110 deep-water cages and 660 acres of various aquaculture projects, while onshore, 128 seawater farms operate. The blend of fisheries and tourism has opened even more income opportunities for villagers.
In 2023, Aojiao Village’s total social output value reached 1.55 billion yuan, with a per capita net income of 58,000 yuan. This seaside community is steadily advancing towards a brighter, more prosperous future. As the sound of a ship’s horn echoed through the harbor, Xu picked up his phone to arrange unloading busy with anticipation for the next busy day ahead.
