From fish scales to collagen peptides: Hainan taps 'blue gold' for global markets

Photo shows a workshop of Hainan Huayan Collagen Technology Co., Ltd. (Photo courtesy of Hainan Huayan Collagen Technology Co., Ltd.)

A company in south China's Hainan Province has converted fish scales, skins and other aquatic by-products into high-value collagen dipeptides, and finally solid beverages, oral liquids, candy tablets, among other products, serving consumers across the globe.

The company, Hainan Huayan Collagen Technology Co., Ltd., has established a full-chain technology system covering raw-material processing, functional peptide research and development and finished-product production, thanks to Hainan's rich marine resources and favorable policies.

As a national high-tech company and national demonstration company for marine innovation, the company has been deeply engaged in the fish collagen peptide industry.

Its fish collagen peptide production base in Haikou, capital of Hainan, produces 4,500 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes of fish collagen peptides annually, which are exported to more than 50 countries and regions around the world.

Liang Xiaoli, head of the company's international operations, told People's Daily Online that Hainan's abundant marine resources offer a natural advantage in securing product quality, and the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) has brought about multiple policy dividends for enterprises.

"Hainan is a major coastal province, and its rich, high-quality marine resources are the key reason we chose to establish our business here," Liang said.

With an open and inclusive business environment, comprehensive industrial support services and infrastructure, and strong support for marine economy development, Hainan offers great opportunities for business growth, Liang said.

According to Liang, the company has set up joint laboratories with local universities and research institutes, and established a research team with over 85 percent of its members holding advanced degrees.

As customs facilitation and tariff-reduction measures continue to take effect, the company has seen lower costs and higher efficiency in both raw material import and finished products export, Liang said.

Corporate income tax and individual income tax incentives have further reduced operating pressures, allowing the company to reinvest more in research and development, she said.

The Hainan FTP will officially launch island-wide special customs operations on Dec. 18 this year, which will further benefit local companies with smoother cross-border capital flows and the aggregation of international talent, Liang noted.

"These benefits will provide stronger support for companies' technological innovation and cross-border collaboration, helping them achieve higher-quality global development," she said.

In recent years, Hainan has been pushing for high-quality growth in its marine economy, identifying marine resources as a new driver of productivity and innovation.

In 2024, the province released a three-year action plan for building a strong marine economy, aiming to raise the marine sector's share of GDP from 33.8 percent in 2023 to 40 percent by 2026.