Pearls of wisdom: Deqing's aquaculture legacy gains global recognition

A new jewel has been added to the crown of global agricultural heritage. On May 19, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced the addition of the Zhejiang Deqing Freshwater Pearl Mussel Composite Fishery System, also known as the Deqing Pearl System, to the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) list for 2025. This designation makes it China's first world-class agricultural heritage project in aquaculture. China now has 25 of these systems, the highest number in the world, with six located in Zhejiang alone.

Artificial freshwater pearl cultivation started in Deqing during the Southern Song Dynasty, some 800 years ago. The Deqing Pearl System is a testament to the harmonious symbiosis of nature and human ingenuity. Based in the principle of mutualism between fish and mussels, and rooted in the local technique of attached pearl farming, it has evolved into a complex web of aquatic life. It encompasses mussels, fish, plankton, benthic organisms, and aquatic plants. 

Xiaoshanyang on Fuxi Street is the system's main protected area, where fish glide and mussels nestle in clear waters. Zhang Guoyong has been farming pearls for over 40 years there, and his farm covers more than 2,000 acres. Dr. Yang Lun, an associate researcher at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences noted that this symbiotic model is a prime example of resource recycling and biodiversity preservation.

FAO expert Aicha Bammoun said the system is a model of combining agricultural wisdom with modern conservation methods to reflect the enduring vitality of Chinese agricultural civilization.

In recent years, Deqing has been promoting the "pearl+" industry-chain integration model. Mainly worn for decoration, pearls are now used in the beauty, healthcare, and cultural tourism industries, following an "industry and academic research tourism" model. Deqing's deep-processing industry currently generates an annual output of over 7 billion yuan (approximately 971 million US dollars), accounting for about one-tenth of the national total, and provides employment for nearly 20,000 people.

In the late 1970s, systematic research began in Deqing into the origins of freshwater pearl farming. After more than 30 years of academic research and field surveys, it produced a series of papers, such as the "Proof of the Origin of Large-scale Cultivation of Artificial Pearls in Ancient China." In June 2017, the system was officially recognized as an Important Agricultural Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in China. In September of the same year, Deqing launched the application for GIAHS. In 2019, it entered the GIAHS Preparatory List. In April this year, FAO experts conducted an on-site assessment in Deqing and finally confirmed its inclusion.

"As China's first GIAHS project in aquaculture, the Deqing Pearl System builds a new bridge for Chinese traditional agricultural wisdom to reach the global stage and has exemplary significance,"said Min Qingwen, head of the expert committee on GIAHS under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. He added that the successful application was just the beginning and that Deqing would continue to explore pearl culture and promote its global influence.