Deep-Sea Aquaculture & Mooring Market – FISHEX 2026 Preview

Deep-Sea Aquaculture Is Reshaping the Mooring Market – A Pre-Expo Look at FISHEX 2026 

From September 10 to 12, 2026, the 12th Guangzhou International Fisheries & Seafood Expo (FISHEX 2026) will open in Guangzhou. Over 50,000 square meters of exhibition space, 650+ exhibitors, and 45,000+ professional visitors from 80 countries – a 17.78% increase from the previous edition. 

As a mooring equipment supplier, we're not just watching the scale. We're watching a trend: deep-sea aquaculture mooring demand is shifting from a niche topic to a real market.  

I. Policy: Structural Expansion, Not a Short-Term Trend 

The policy signals in 2026 are stronger than ever: 

A new Fisheries Law took effect on May 1, 2026, explicitly supporting deep-sea aquaculture at the national legislative level. 

The Central No. 1 Document designated deep-sea aquaculture and modern distant-water fishing as strategic growth sectors. Local policies are accelerating: Qingdao raised subsidies for large aquaculture vessels from 15% to 30%. Shenzhen published its 2026 subsidy guidelines. Fujian issued policies extending through 2030. Guangdong launched its marine ranch insurance program. 

When local subsidies go from 15% to 30%, when provincial policies plan through 2030 – this is not stimulus, this is structural. For mooring suppliers, it means sustained equipment deployment for years to come, each one generating mooring system procurement.  

II. Equipment: From Pilot to Scale 

Aquaculture Vessels: 

In June 2026, "Guoxin 1-2-2" completed the world's first commercial-scale salmon harvest on a mobile vessel – 12 tons with a 97.3% survival rate. "Zhanjiang Bay No. 1," the world's first dynamically positioned aquaculture vessel, began operations in January 2026. 

Deep-Sea Platforms: 

"Yongshen No. 1" was commissioned in January 2026 – China's first combined truss-type aquaculture platform with an 8-point mooring system and 8 sets of bottom-laid anchor chains, capable of withstanding Typhoon Level 15. "Zhuhai Qin" launched in January 2026. "Haolingdao No. 1" entered mooring trials in May 2026. 

The trend is clear: in 2026, deep-sea aquaculture equipment is moving from demonstration to serial delivery. Every platform launch, every vessel delivery, translates to mooring chain, shackle, connector, and anchoring system procurement. 

III. Mooring Requirements Are Being "Offshore-Engineered" 

Traditional inshore cages have relatively simple mooring requirements. Deep-sea platforms are different – "Yongshen No. 1" uses an 8-point high-redundancy mooring system with 8 sets of bottom-laid anchor chains. "Zhuhai Qin" approaches offshore engineering standards. 

Yasing Anchor Chain's mooring chain production increased 24.13% in 2025, with new orders reaching 152,300 tons. In the first half of 2026, mooring chain demand significantly outpaced the broader market. 2026 FPSO/FLSO newbuild and conversion orders are estimated at 34 units, corresponding to approximately 118,000 tons of mooring chain demand. 

R3 offers yield strength of approximately 410 MPa, R4 approximately 560 MPa, and R5 approximately 700 MPa – some projects are already specifying R3 and R4 materials. 

Deep-sea aquaculture is moving toward offshore standards – longer chains, heavier anchors, more complex mooring systems.  

IV. What This Means for Mooring Suppliers 

1. Product mix needs to evolve 

Grade 2 and Grade 3 chains remain mainstream, but deep-sea projects are opening incremental demand for R3/R4 mooring chains. 

2. Customer base is expanding 

New players include aquaculture vessel operators, deep-sea platform investors, and offshore engineering EPC contractors. 

3. Project intelligence is critical 

Mooring system procurement is typically locked in during the construction phase – early access to project information is key. 

V. Participating in the Expo

On September 10, SMEOCEAN's technical team will be in Guangzhou to participate in FISHEX 2026, engaging with aquaculture operators and industry partners on deep-water cage mooring systems, anchoring solutions, and mooring chain selection.

The expo is about to open. Our assessment is clear: deep-sea aquaculture is accelerating, and mooring system requirements are upgrading rapidly. SMEOCEAN remains committed to providing reliable mooring chain, connector, and anchoring solutions for aquaculture vessels, deep-sea platforms, and cage systems.

More Links:

Su Hai 1 First Harvest: World's Largest Aquaculture Vessel Reaches Milestone

First Atlantic Salmon Harvested on Chinese Aquaculture Vessel

CFSE 2025 Salmon Expo Qingdao Mooring Chain Guide