HEFEI -- A forum on fishery development opened Thursday in eastern China's Anhui province.

The First China Intelligent Fisheries Development Forum opened in the provincial capital Hefei, with more than 700 aquaculture experts, business delegates and aquaculture farmers in attendance.

"We have entered an era of online and offline businesses, and intelligent fishery is just inevitable," said Zhao Xingwu, head of the China Fisheries Association.

Delegates delivered reports on research and industrial application of intelligent fisheries. Roadshows were also conducted. Experts also pointed out shortcomings in China's intelligent fisheries.

Last year, China's aquaculture production output exceeded 50 million tonnes.