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Full-Chain Collaborative Innovation Transforms Chinese Squid Industry

CHINA
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 05:30 (GMT + 9)

From Ocean to Plate: Research, Fishing, and Processing Unite for High-Quality Squid Products

ZHOUSHAN – In a significant stride for the marine economy, a profound industry transformation driven by deep integration of production, academia, and research is quietly unfolding across the squid industry chain. Recently, Zhoushan Hanyi Ocean Fisheries Co., Ltd., Shanghai Ocean University, and Yuanyi Seafood Fine Products Co., Ltd. joined forces to pioneer a "fishing-research-processing" full-chain collaborative innovation model, injecting powerful momentum into the high-quality development of the squid industry.

Scientific Breakthroughs and Processing Innovation

Shanghai Ocean University, a leader in China's marine fisheries, boasts impressive achievements in fishing technology, fish stock forecasting, and seafood processing. Leveraging its joint laboratory with Yuanyi Seafood Fine Products Co., Ltd., the university's research focuses on the complex challenges of deep processing squid products, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge industry theories with practical enterprise production.

The research team discovered that factors such as squid species, fishing grounds, and time of capture significantly influence taste and nutritional content. To overcome these technical bottlenecks, researchers conducted extensive experiments, precisely identifying the optimal processing methods for different squid varieties, freshness levels, and specifications, thereby guiding product development.

Central to improving the quality of frozen squid products, the collaboration has made breakthroughs in three key technologies based on biological and raw material analysis of cephalopod squid. Firstly, they innovatively applied enzymatic hydrolysis technology, optimizing enzyme hydrolysis process parameters specifically for squid muscle protein characteristics. Secondly, they developed a green and efficient ultrasonic-assisted technology to enhance squid pre-treatment efficiency through cavitation effects. Finally, they developed and applied biological anti-freeze peptide preparations to replace traditional chemical water retention agents, improving the quality of frozen squid, reducing ice crystal damage, and promoting products that align with health-conscious consumer trends.

Customized Supply and Enhanced Efficiency

Upstream in the industry chain, Zhoushan Hanyi Ocean Fisheries Co., Ltd., with its robust fishing capabilities, forms the cornerstone of this collaboration. The company operates over 50 professional fishing vessels year-round in waters such as Argentina, Peru, the Equator, and the Indian Ocean, engaging in the capture and transport of squid, saury, and other seafood. In this partnership, Hanyi Ocean Fisheries has proactively deployed some of its vessels to grade, segment, and freeze squid strictly according to Yuanyi Seafood's processing requirements, meticulously labeling details like fishing time and area. This ensures a "customized" supply of raw materials from the fishing end to the processing end. This innovative cooperation model not only eliminates intermediate distribution links and improves raw material supply efficiency but also solves raw material sales challenges for the enterprise, ensuring stability upstream in the industry chain.

High-Value Products and Future Traceability

As the leading processing enterprise downstream, Yuanyi Seafood Fine Products Co., Ltd. fully leverages its strengths to rapidly transform Shanghai Ocean University's research achievements into practical productivity. Based on the research team's findings and the high-quality raw materials provided by Hanyi Ocean Fisheries, Yuanyi Seafood continuously optimizes its processing techniques, launching a series of high-value-added squid products, significantly boosting market competitiveness.

The successful three-party collaboration effectively connects the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the squid industry chain, substantially improving product development efficiency and raw material utilization, and powerfully promoting the healthy development of the squid fishing and processing industry. Looking ahead, the three parties also plan to engage in deep cooperation in fishery traceability technology. By integrating Shanghai Ocean University's scientific research strengths, Zhoushan Hanyi Ocean Fisheries Co., Ltd.'s fishing data resources, and Yuanyi Seafood Fine Products Co., Ltd.'s processing information, they aim to build a comprehensive full lifecycle traceability system for squid products. Consumers will soon be able to scan a product QR code to access complete information about the squid, from its fishing grounds and processing procedures to its sales terminal, ensuring that every squid product is "source traceable and destination trackable." This initiative will not only enhance product quality and safety assurance but also further strengthen consumer trust, opening up broader market opportunities for the squid industry.

Source: China Overseas Fisheries Association

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