China launches world’s first high-volume self-propelled salmon farming vessel
China has started industrial salmon production aboard the vessel SUHAI-1, the first large-scale self-propelled salmon farming ship in the world, according to a report from the Jiangsu provincial party committee.
The initial stocking operation took place on 23 December in the Ganyu port area of Lianyungang, Jiangsu, when 400,000 salmon, each weighing more than 1 kg and having spent over a year in freshwater with salt-water adaptation, sorting and veterinary checks, were transferred from shore into the ship’s closed compartments.
The vessel, 249.8 m long with 15 closed farming units holding around 83,000 m³ of water, will see fish moved into these compartments through containers and pipelines.
Once stable operations are reached, annual salmon production is expected to exceed 8,000 tonnes, with the first commercial batch due on the market in the first half of 2026.Annual revenue at full capacity is estimated at about ¥5 billion (approximately $710 million).
The SUHAI-1 can relocate to different waters depending on conditions and maintain controlled environments through constant seawater intake and onboard monitoring.
The project also includes onboard processing and integration with onshore infrastructure to deliver salmon to key consumer markets within 24 hours of harvest.
The project is listed among Jiangsu’s key 2025 investment initiatives; the vessel was handed over to the client in June 2025 and returned to its home port to begin industrial use.
The investor and operator is Jiangsu Lianshen Marine Technology Co., with participation from Shenzhen Dabaihui Group, Lianyungang Ocean Development Group and Ganyu Agricultural Development Group. Jiangsu Lianshen Marine Technology Co. is a legal entity established to develop and operate marine aquaculture technology projects, with specific involvement in industrial fish farming at sea. Its corporate structure includes participation from regional development and industrial partners.
Source: Maasmond Maritime