Wenchang dubbed 'Home of Tilapia in China'

An aerial view of a tilapia aquaculture zone in Wenchang [Photo by Zhang Mao/Hainan Daily]

Wenchang in Hainan province was recently granted the title of "Home of Tilapia in China" by the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance after an expert review was conducted.

The expert panel reached consensus that Wenchang had qualified for the title with its large tilapia industrial scale, high product quality, significant brand effect, prominent economic benefits, strong policy support, and high sustainability.

A fisherman shows a tilapia just caught from sea. [Photo/hinews.cn]

Wenchang has attached great importance to its tilapia industry development. Its yield and aquatic breeding area of tilapia topped the list among domestic cities and counties at the same level. The products have rich nutrition with good flavor.

Tilapia, which is one of the most consumed fish in Europe, North America, and South America, has become the top fishery export in South China's Hainan province, generating an export volume of 2.07 billion yuan ($299.8 million) over the past year.

An aquaculture chain consisting of producers and farmers has gradually taken shape since tilapia entered the province in the 1980s.

Workers process frozen tilapia fillets in a Hainan food company's workshop. [Photo by Zhang Mao/Hainan Daily]