Green drive

Environmental restoration has also been central to the village's renewal, as enhanced measures to treat waste and sewage from aquaculture operations, households and fishing vessels bolstered the local ecology.

Aojiao was once confronted with growing pollution from the quick development of coastal aquaculture, as some farmers erected makeshift structures along the shore, with trash and wastewater discharged directly into the sea, said Shen Ruidong, the village official.

The coastal waters were once teeming with kelp and abalone farms, but foam buoys floated on the surface, and bits of polystyrene littered the beach. During high tide, marine debris would even wash up to residents' doorsteps.

To tackle these issues, local authorities launched a baywide ecological cleanup, creating no-aquaculture as well as permitted zones, and guiding farmers to designated areas.

They also encouraged upgrading from wooden rafts and foam buoys to eco-friendly plastic net pens and floats, improving the marine environment and restoring orderly offshore operations.

The gradual improvement in ecology and environment has paved the way for the development of rural tourism, allowing Lin Hubin, a military veteran, to set up a homestay while selling seafood on a live-streaming platform.

Lin said the homestay was flooded with bookings during summer and holiday periods, as tourists arrived to experience the seaside lifestyle and fishing practices.

Meanwhile, the improvement in water quality has also significantly improved the quality of produce from aquaculture farms, which pump water from deep in the sea to raise the produce, farmers said.

Cai Yanzhong, head of the bureau of agriculture and rural affairs in Dongshan county, said the trajectory of Aojiao's development holds key lessons for the rural vitalization of broader regions.

"By leveraging its unique geographical assets and cultivating distinctive local industries, Aojiao has built a diverse economic foundation that includes marine capture and aquaculture, advanced seafood processing, e-commerce and rural tourism," he said.

"This shows that successful rural vitalization hinges on industry-focused strategies that adapt to local conditions, tap into inherent advantages and develop signature enterprises."

The village is not without challenges. The dwindling of fish stocks offshore is expected to continue troubling the fishermen, and the aging of the village workforce, with an increasing number of young people migrating to urban areas, is posing obstacles to long-term development, officials said.

Even so, Shen Zhiqun, the fisherman, said he expects that the sea will continue to provide for the village's future generations.

"Everything we have comes from the sea," he said. "And as long as we treat it with care and respect, it will continue to give back."