A total of 2.17 million newly hatched fish are released into the ocean in Qidong on July 17. [Photo/WeChat account of QDTV]

A total of 2.17 million newly hatched fish were released into the ocean in Qidong on July 17 in an attempt to carry out oceanic eco-compensation.

Eco-compensation mechanism seeks to compensate land users or suppliers of ecosystem services for lost income or land use rights due to environmental protection policies.

The annual activity, organized by Jianghai Industrial Park, aims to improve the ocean ecosystem and enrich local fishing resources in Qidong, according to Cheng Lei, CEO of the Doowin (Qidong) Construction Development Co Ltd.

The fish, which included 900,000 large yellow croakers, 750,000 black porgy, 450,000 nibea albiflora and 76,000 cynoglossus semilaevis, are worth 1.44 million yuan ($209,540). They are being monitored by the East Sea Fishery Research Institute and will be evaluated after six months.