Harry Båtvik, a Norwegian aquaculture specialist, has embarked on an 8,000-kilometer journey to revolutionize tropical fisheries in China's Hainan province. Drawn by the island’s warm waters and untapped potential, Båtvik now leads efforts to optimize breeding techniques for high-value tropical species like grouper and pompano.
"The challenge of adapting cold-water aquaculture expertise to tropical environments fascinated me," Båtvik told KhabarAsia. His work combines Scandinavian sustainability practices with Hainan’s unique marine ecology, creating hybrid models that could reshape Asia’s $280 billion aquaculture industry.
Local fisheries report a 40% efficiency improvement since adopting his temperature-controlled feeding systems. Investors note growing interest in Hainan’s aquaculture sector, with overseas funding up 18% this year. The provincial government recently announced plans to expand deep-sea fish farming platforms using these innovations.
For Hainan’s fishing communities, Båtvik’s knowledge transfer represents both economic opportunity and environmental stewardship. "We’re not just farming fish," he emphasized. "We’re cultivating a blueprint for sustainable tropical aquaculture that could benefit coastal regions worldwide."
