In the first quarter, the total output of aquatic products in Huai'an City reached 86,600 tons, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.71%. Notably, specialty aquaculture experienced rapid development.

First, the benefits from crawfish continue to rise. Scientific guidance on the release of crawfish seedlings has been implemented, and farmers are being encouraged to stagger their harvests. Currently, the market price for early-season crawfish has reached RMB 80 per kilogram, marking a 13% increase compared to last year. The new variety "Xuyi No. 1" has been promoted for cultivation, and new large-scale breeding techniques for fry have been adopted. By the end of March, the number of crawfish seedlings in Xuyi County reached 9 billion.

Second, the optimization of river crab varieties is ongoing. As of the end of March, the total river crab farming area in the city is approximately 280,000 mu. High-quality river crab varieties, such as "Noah No. 1" and "Yangtze No. 2", have been promoted over an area exceeding 100,000 mu. More than 90% of juvenile crabs have been stocked across the region.

Third, the consumption of river snails continues to expand.   Leveraging a series of activities in Jiangba, the full industrial chain development of river snail farming, processing, and dining has been promoted. By the end of March, the intensive farming area for river snails in the city exceeded 2,000 mu, with a total farming area reaching 20,000 mu. The annual river snail output is over 10,000 tons, and the price of river snails in Tangkou, Jiangba Town, has risen to RMB 8-20 per jin, reflecting an increase of nearly 60% year-on-year.