The conference's prestigious "Walk of Fame for Academicians and Experts" featured IHB's newly elected CAS member, Prof. HE Shunping. (Credit: IHB)

At the 2026 Hubei Science and Technology Innovation Conference which was held on June 4, 2026, the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was recognized for both its foundational research and its industry-transforming applied science.

The conference's prestigious "Walk of Fame for Academicians and Experts" featured IHB's newly elected CAS member, Prof. HE Shunping. A pioneer in fish biology with a 40-year career, Prof. He is celebrated for creating the world's first comprehensive DNA barcode database for Yangtze River fish, effectively giving each species a unique genetic identifier. His groundbreaking work extends to understanding how deep-sea fish adapt to extreme environments and broader questions of vertebrate evolution.

In a parallel accolade, an IHB-led project titled "Precision Feeding Theory and Key Technologies for Major Freshwater Fish" received the First Prize of the Hubei Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award. Prof. XIE Shouqi accepted the award on behalf of the collaborative team.

This project addressed issues in freshwater aquaculture feed management. It uncovered the endogenous feeding rhythms, feeding and digestive physiology, patterns of nutrient metabolism and deposition in fish, and the effects of environmental factors, systematically constructing an energy demand model for major freshwater fish, laying a theoretical foundation for precision feeding.

Based on fish feeding physiology and dynamic nutritional requirements at different farming stages, the project pioneered the development of refined precision feeding technologies covering the entire farming cycle of major freshwater fish, from larvae and juveniles, through overwintering, growth, high-temperature periods, to pre-harvest. It innovatively developed intelligent control technology for precision fish feeding, achieving a breakthrough in intelligent management and control to truly realize "precision feeding on demand." The team independently created intelligent precision feeding equipment systems applicable to scenarios such as ponds and industrial farming, achieving industrialized application.

The project has obtained 16 invention patents, 9 utility model patents, 14 software copyrights, and published 72 research papers. It was selected for two Agricultural Promotion Technologies by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and one by Hubei Province, and received two awards for outstanding scientific achievements in new fisheries technologies, products, and equipment. Over the past three years, the results have been promoted and applied across 2.872 million mu (approximately 191,467 hectares) in major production areas including Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Sichuan, and Jiangsu. The feed conversion ratio for major freshwater fish has decreased by 10%-17% overall, cumulatively driving an increase in output value of 34.03 billion yuan. Furthermore, nitrogen and phosphorus emissions from aquaculture have been reduced by 19%-26%, demonstrating significant social and economic benefits. The project promotes the development of green, efficient freshwater aquaculture and smart fisheries, strongly contributing to the advancement of freshwater aquaculture science and technology and the transformation and upgrading of the fisheries industry.

This project exemplifies a successful transition from academic research to industrialized application, driving the green transformation and intelligent advancement of China's freshwater aquaculture sector. The work was completed in collaboration with leading academic institutions and industry partners, including Huazhong Agricultural University, Guangdong Haid Group, Tongwei Agricultural Development, and others.

A group photo of Prof. XIE Shouqi's research team (Credit: IHB)

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