Scallops pile in the nets layer by layer. [Photo/Dazhong News]

The ecological restoration work succeeded so well that wild fish returned in large numbers. These fish then began preying on juvenile shellfish, reducing survival rates by nearly 40 percent. Researchers responded with ecological solutions, including buffer zones, bait feeding, and bionic nets. Within six months, wild fish were effectively diverted. As a result, total per‑mu (0.07 hectares) output increased another 12 percent over a previous 26 percent gain.

Shandong now leads the nation in marine ranching, with 71 national‑level ranches, accounting for 38 percent of China's total. By using the sea while nurturing it, the province is turning aquaculture into a sustainable and high‑yield "blue granary".