Fujian province witnessed a significant growth in its pelagic fishing industry in 2014, scoring a gross output of 243,000 tons with a value of 3 billion yuan ($484 million), both up by more than 20 percent from the previous year.

The foreign exchange volume from exports of aquatic products by Fujian exceeded 5.3 billion US dollars, ranking it first in the country.

In addition, 101 ocean fishing vessels were brought into use last year.

The figures were released at a provincial agricultural work conference held in Fuzhou on Jan 15.

The modern fishery in Fujian also developed rapidly, with an estimated output value of 233 billion yuan, up by 6 percent year on year, ranking it 3rd in China. The gross output of aquatic products reached nearly 7 million tons, ranking 3rd , too.

Currently Fujian is accelerating the construction of projects in accordance with a Fujian-ASEAN maritime cooperation foundation, and striving to built a Fujian-ASEAN aquatic product trading platform.

The province set a goal of sixth percent growth in its fishery economy output in 2015. It also plans to add at least 50 vessels for pelagic fishing and increase fishery cooperation with countries include Indonesia, Myanmar, Madagascar and Tanzania, said an official with the provincial Ocean and Fishery Bureau.

Fujian will boast 850 ocean fishing ships by 2020, with an annual production output of 750,000 tons and a value of 10 billion yuan, according to a development plan issued last year.

The plan also announces that Fujian will build 10 to 15 overseas aquaculture bases, with an annual production of 150,000 tons and a value of 2.1 billion yuan by then.