Arabfields, Farah Benali, Economic Correspondent, China — China’s experience in modern aquaculture is drawing attention in Cambodia and across Southeast Asia, where governments and producers are seeking ways to improve food production, strengthen rural livelihoods and develop more sustainable fisheries.
The experience of Fujian province, a major centre for China’s aquaculture industry, suggests that advances in breeding, feeding, disease control and seafood processing could provide useful lessons for countries with different environmental conditions.
You Weide, a Chinese aquaculture entrepreneur and chairman of several companies based in Ningde, said Southeast Asian countries should focus on adapting technology rather than reproducing China’s farming model in its entirety.
The distinction is important for Cambodia, where aquatic producers operate in different climates and rely on species suited to local freshwater and marine ecosystems. You said breeding methods, quality standards and integrated supply chains could be adjusted to meet those conditions.
In Fujian, the farming of large yellow croaker has developed into a wider commercial industry supported by research, government policies and private investment. The species, once severely depleted in the wild, has become a source of income for coastal communities as breeding technology has improved.
For fishermen who once depended heavily on uncertain catches, the expansion of aquaculture has created new employment opportunities. You said improvements in technology and industry development had gradually strengthened the livelihoods of local families.
The Fujian model covers several stages, from broodstock selection and hatchery operations to cage farming, feed production, processing, packaging and distribution. This approach allows businesses to capture value beyond the sale of unprocessed fish.
For Cambodia and other ASEAN markets, developing similar links between production, storage and processing could help address challenges related to cold-chain infrastructure and access to higher-value markets. The potential gains, however, would depend on investment costs, technical capacity and the suitability of each species.
Research and technology are expected to remain central to the sector’s development in 2026. Data presented at an international sustainable aquaculture conference in China indicated that national aquaculture production exceeded 63 million metric tonnes in 2025, underlining the scale of the country’s farming industry.
If investment in breeding, disease prevention and production technology continues, aquaculture businesses in Southeast Asia could gradually improve productivity and develop more consistent supplies for domestic and export markets. Such progress is likely to depend on local training, access to finance and the ability to maintain product quality.
Environmental protection is another consideration. You warned that the expansion of fish farming must be accompanied by measures to preserve clean water and healthy marine ecosystems. Poor environmental management could undermine the production gains that new technology is intended to deliver.
The sector could also create opportunities for younger workers. In Fujian, aquaculture has expanded beyond traditional fishing activities into technical, administrative and processing roles, allowing some university graduates to return to coastal communities.
For Cambodia, the experience offers a possible framework for combining traditional knowledge with modern production methods. Over the coming years, adapting Chinese aquaculture practices to local species could support rural incomes, strengthen food supply chains and encourage investment in the country’s fisheries sector. The scale of those benefits will depend on how effectively technology, public policy and environmental safeguards are brought together.
