Present situation of fisheries in Henan province, China

Introduction

Henan province, located in central and eastern China within the middle and lower sections of the Yellow River, covers an area of 167 thousand square kilometers. It is the only province encompassing the Yellow River, Huai River, Yangtze River, and Hai River. Over 1500 rivers crisscross its territory, with 1030 watercourses having drainage areas exceeding 50 square kilometers. The province also contains 2651 reservoirs with a total storage capacity of 42.3 billion cubic meters. Henan possesses abundant fishery resources, hosting 129 fish species, including over 60 commercially valuable key species.¹ Due to its average economic and aquaculture development, Henan is regarded as a representative inland region of China.² However, no comprehensive literature has been published recently on the current status of Henan’s fishery production. This review therefore summarized the fishery production in Henan province from capture and aquaculture, providing information that could form a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the province’s fishery industry.

1. Current status of fishery production in Henan province

Fishery production in Henan province increased at an average annual growth rate of 8.6% from 1978 to 2022. Production rose from only 24.7 thousand tons in 1978 to 942.5 thousand tons in 2022 (Fig. 1A), peaking at 1023.4 thousand tons in 2015 (Fig. 1A). Concurrently, the gross output value of fishery grew rapidly at an annual growth rate of 16.3%, increasing from 19 million RMB in 1978 to 14.7 billion RMB in 2022 (Fig. 1B). According to the Fisheries Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China (FBMA),³ China’s average freshwater fishery production and gross output value per province in 2022 were 1098.8 thousand tons and 26.3 billion RMB, respectively. Given Henan’s production level is close to the national provincial average, the province serves as a representative case for China’s inland fishery production.

As fishery production comprises both capture and aquaculture sectors,⁴ these components are detailed below.

Figure 1.Fishery production (A) and gross-out value (B) in Henan province.

1.1. Capture production

Henan province comprises 18 cities, with capture production concentrated in those possessing abundant natural water resources. Zhumadian, Nanyang, Xinyang, and Pingdingshan collectively accounted for 71.8% of the province’s total capture production (Fig. 2A). From 2010 to 2022, capture production climbed from 32.4 thousand tons to 110.9 thousand tons (Fig. 2B). In 2022, freshwater capture production in Henan (110.9 thousand tons) exceeded China’s provincial average (37.6 thousand tons). Capture production consists of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and others. Fish dominated 2022 yields, followed by crustaceans and molluscs (Fig. 2C).

Figure 2.Current status of capture production in Henan province. A. Heat map of capture production distribution in 2022 for Henan Province; B. Aquaculture production from 2010 to 2022. C. Capture production divided by species in 2022.

1.2. Aquaculture production

Aquaculture production was dominated by the cities of Xinyang, Nanyang, Zhumadian, and Kaifeng, which collectively accounted for 60.2% of total production (Fig. 3A). Aquaculture production in Henan province increased from 546.2 thousand tons in 2010 to 831.5 thousand tons in 2022 (Fig. 3B). In 2022, China’s average freshwater aquaculture production per province (1061.2 thousand tons) exceeded Henan’s output. Aquaculture species comprise four categories: fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and others. Fish dominated, followed by crustaceans and molluscs (Fig. 3C).

Figure 3.Current status of aquaculture production in Henan province. A. Heat map of aquaculture production distribution in 2022 for Henan Province; B. Aquaculture production from 2010 to 2022. C. Aquaculture production divided by species in 2022.

At present, aquaculture dominates Henan’s fishery production. According to a recent survey released by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Henan Province, aquaculture accounted for 88.2% of the province’s total fishery production in 2022. As a result, the following sections focused on aquaculture production when detailing fish species output.

1.2.1. Aquaculture production by species

Table 1 showed the production of the top reported fish species in 2022. Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) were the four largest producers, collectively comprising 80.4% of total fish aquaculture production. From 2003 to 2022, channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), weather loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), and sturgeon exhibited higher annual percentage rates (APRs) ranging from 12.62% to 37.21% (Table 1). Among sixteen cultured fish species, only silver carp, bighead carp, common carp, and channel catfish exceeded the national provincial average yield. The largest producers of fed fish species were Xinyang, Nanyang, and Zhumadian, which contributed 28.3%, 11.1%, and 10.4% of total fish production in 2022, respectively. Primary producers varied by species. Xinyang dominated production of silver carp, common carp, grass carp, bighead carp, Carassius sp., Parabramis and Megalobrama, ricefield eel (Monopterus albus), yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco), and snakehead (Channa striatus); Puyang led in Silurus sp., weather loach, and tilapia; and Zhengzhou, Zhumadian, and Anyang were primary producers of channel catfish, largemouth bass, and sturgeon, respectively.

Crustacean farming involved only five species (Table 2). Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) accounted for 88.9% of total crustacean production, while giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) represented the smallest share (1.1%) (Table 2). Red swamp crayfish and whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) showed the highest APR (2003 to 2022). Unlike farmed fish, all crustacean species in Henan yielded below the national provincial average. According to FBMA,³ Xinyang was the main producer of red swamp crayfish, oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense), and giant freshwater prawn. Zhumadian was the primary producer of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) and giant freshwater prawn. Puyang, Shangqiu, and Kaifeng were the main producers of whiteleg shrimp.

Mollusc production totaled 362 tons, comprising mussels (63.5%), snails (30.9%), and clams (5.5%) (Table 3). From 2003 to 2022, mussel and clam aquaculture grew rapidly, while snail production increased slowly (Table 3). Similar to crustaceans, all mollusc species in Henan province had yields below the national average per province. According to FBMA (2023), Zhumadian was the sole producer of mussels and clams and accounted for 91.9% of the total production of snails.

Additional aquatic animal production included soft-shelled turtles, frogs, and turtles (Table 4). Soft-shelled turtle output in 2022 was the highest (Table 4), which was primarily distributed in the cities of Xinyang, Kaifeng, and Nanyang. Turtle production declined since 2003 (Table 4) and concentrated in Xinyang, Zhumadian, and Nanyang. The production of all species was below the national average per province.

1.2.2. Production environments and systems

Aquaculture environments in Henan include ponds, lakes, reservoirs, diked areas, and other types. From 1986 to 2022, all four primary areas expanded and then fell (Fig. 4). Ponds and reservoirs were the two principal aquaculture production environments in Henan, accounting for 78% and 17% of the total aquaculture area in 2022, respectively. Ponds, on the other hand, produce the most, accounting for 80% of Henan’s aquaculture production in 2022. Pond aquaculture remains the primary method of fish production in China.⁵ According to government statistics, pond aquaculture in China represents 52% and 73% of total freshwater area and production, respectively.³ From these aspects, Henan province’s pond aquaculture production efficiency is lower than the national average.

Figure 4.Aquaculture area by culture environment in Henan province (1986-2022)

2. Existing problems and prospects for Henan’s fishery sector

2.1. Limited freshwater resources and abundant saline-alkali water

Henan province faces freshwater scarcity, with per capita water resources ≤400 m³.^6,7 Conversely, it possesses extensive saline-alkaline resources exceeding 3.5 billion tons.⁸ Situated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, the region contains vast saline-alkaline water bodies characterized by high salinity, alkalinity, pH, and complex water quality.^8,9 Developing these resources represents an urgent challenge. Furthermore, traditional aquaculture methods (e.g., cages) and industrial effluent pollution exacerbate water quality degradation, damaging aquatic ecosystems.^10–12 Consequently, aquaculture area decreased by 51% from 2013 to 2022. The implementation of ecological and environmental protection planning in the Yellow River basin has also caused a large reduction in aquaculture area.^3,13,14 Introducing saline-alkaline-tolerant species is critical for utilizing these marginal resources and boosting aquaculture production. Some species have been shown to survive in saline water environments, such as tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)¹⁵ and crucian carp (Carassius auratus).¹⁶

2.2. Low market value of aquaculture species

Henan’s aquaculture sector remains dominated by conventional species, particularly the “Four Major Chinese Carps (i.e., bighead carp, grass carp, silver carp, and black carp)” and common carp. As demonstrated in Table 1, these species collectively accounted for 76% of total aquaculture production. While crucial for food security and animal protein provision,¹⁷ their market value remains low ($0.50-$1.50/kg).¹⁸ In addition, rising living standards have increased consumer demand for high-quality aquatic products that conventional species cannot satisfy.¹⁹ Accelerating the introduction of high-value fish species is therefore essential. Although some high-value commercial fish species like largemouth bass have been introduced into Henan, their current production remains low. Additional measures are required to expand their cultivation scale and production.

2.3. Shortage of professional expertise

Currently, Henan province possesses a substantial fishery workforce, but the general population is undereducated and unprofessional. According to the official statistics, the workforce in Henan province’s fishery industry was about 434 thousand individuals in 2022, with only 144 thousand comprising professional practitioners who specialize in capture and aquaculture. Addressing this requires implementing comprehensive training programs for aquaculture technicians and modern fishermen, actively recruiting specialized fisheries professionals, and increasing financial investment in fishery technology extension services.

2.4. Underdeveloped enterprises and limited industrial standardization

Aquatic enterprises in Henan province exhibit small operational scales, low profitability, limited industrialization, and underdeveloped industrial integration mechanisms. At present, most aquatic products undergo primary processing with minimal value addition. According to a recent survey, Henan’s freshwater aquaculture competitiveness falls below China’s median level.²⁰ Strengthening scientific innovation and actively developing aquatic consumer markets is crucial for addressing intensifying market competition. The government should continue to enhance support for cultivating leading enterprises, give full play to the leading role of leading enterprises, actively introduce advanced technology and professional personnel, promote standardized production systems, and facilitate enterprises’ scale expansion.

2.5. Disease outbreaks

Disease outbreaks currently threaten the healthy development of the Henan fishery industry. For example, the carp edema virus, with clinical signs of acute gill rot, is a great threat to carp and koi farming and causes losses of approximately 50-100 million RMB per year in Henan province.^21,22 Vibrio metschnikovii has induced a high mortality rate of hybrid sturgeon (Acipenser baerii ♀ × Acipenser schrenckii ♂) in Zhengzhou.²³ Shewanella putrefaciens has led to mass mortality at a low temperature (10 °C) in Henan province.²⁴ According to the Henan fishery statistics, in 2022, fish disease afflicted 1063 ha of aquaculture operations, causing losses of 713 tons of aquatic products and 7.56 million RMB in economic damage.³ Preventive strategies such as vaccines, probiotics, prebiotics, and medicinal plants could mitigate these impacts.^25,26

2.6. Strict provincial policy requirements

Henan’s fisheries development operates within China’s national framework for agricultural modernization and ecological conservation, notably guided by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Green Aquaculture Development Initiatives. Responding to acute environmental pressures in the Yellow River Basin and chronic water scarcity, the province has enacted stringent regulations: (1) The “14th Five-Year Plan for Ecological Protection” (2022) mandates environmental surveys, promotes large-waterbody ecological aquaculture, and enforces wastewater treatment; (2) Provincial discharge standards (DB41/2575-2024) impose strict limits on nitrogen (TN: 8–15 mg/L) and phosphorus (TP: 0.5–1 mg/L) based on recipient water sensitivity; (3) The Three-Year Action Plan (2024–2026) accelerates the transition toward facility-based, integrated systems, targeting 1.05 million tons of output, >50% fry self-sufficiency, and 22000 RMB fishermen income by 2026.

Henan province lacks freshwater resources and is characterized by a temperate continental climate.² These features compress the effective production time of pond aquaculture to less than 180 days, seriously limiting the development of the Henan fisheries industry. Under strict provincial policy mandates and constraints of freshwater resources and climate, adopting recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) has become an essential pathway. This technology can achieve year-round production under idealized aquaculture conditions and significantly reduce water consumption and the discharge of aquaculture tailwater.²⁷

3. Conclusion

At present, aquaculture has dominated fishery production in Henan province. In aquaculture, fish dominated, followed by crustaceans and molluscs. The fishery production in Henan province was limited by scarce freshwater resources and the presence of saline-alkali water, the low market value of aquaculture species, a shortage of professional expertise, underdeveloped enterprises and limited industrial standardization, disease outbreaks, and strict provincial policy requirements. Possible solutions can be used to solve these problems, such as introducing fish species acclimated to saline-alkali water and special fish with great value, increasing financial investment to introduce advanced technology and professional personnel, using vaccines and medicinal plants, and adopting new aquaculture technology (e.g., RAS) (Fig. 5).

Figure 5.Existing problems and possible solutions of Henan fishery industry

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, no. 32202952), the University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Projects of Henan University of Science and Technology (2025447; 2025450), and the Doctoral Scientific Research Foundation of Henan University of Science and Technology (13480087, 13480088)

Authors’ Contribution

Conceptualization: Zhaobin Shi, Weijun Chen; Methodology: Xiang Liu, Shiyang Gao; Formal analysis and investigation: Hanqi Wang, Weiyi Wu, Qunzeng Zhang, and Yong Deng; Writing - original draft preparation: Xiang Liu, Yuanwen Zhang; Writing - review and editing: Weijun Chen, Zhaobin Shi; Funding acquisition: Weijun Chen, Shiyang Gao; Resources: Hanqi Wang, Weiyi Wu, Qunzeng Zhang, Yiming Li, and Yong Deng.

Competing Interest – COPE

No competing interests were disclosed.

Ethical Conduct Approval – IACUC

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

All authors and institutions have confirmed this manuscript for publication.

Data Availability Statement

All are available upon reasonable request.