Recently, the *China Food Industry Journal* highlighted a major report on how Xinfa Holdings' investment in Blue Run Group has led to the completion of China's largest single-site tuna processing facility, enabling a qualitative leap in the value of each tuna.

In Rongcheng City, located at the easternmost tip of the Shandong Peninsula, a prized fish species from pristine deep-sea waters—tuna—is injecting fresh momentum into Rongcheng’s development with its unique product value. As a nationally recognized powerhouse in fisheries, Rongcheng is leveraging its unparalleled marine resources to build a mature offshore fishing industry chain. Among these, the tuna sector stands out particularly, driving the region’s high-quality marine economic growth thanks to its high added value and innovative applications of science and technology.

As a pillar enterprise in China's marine industry, Shandong Lanrun Group has not only built the country's largest single-site tuna processing facility through continuous innovation and technological upgrades, but has also dramatically elevated the value of every single tuna. From deep-sea fishing to sophisticated processing, from cold-chain logistics to the development of high-value-added products, the journey of the tuna has been imbued with new meaning—it is not merely a gift from the ocean, but also a testament to a city’s determination to thrive by embracing the sea.

        Tuna: A Nutritional Treasure Trove in the Deep Sea

Tuna, widely recognized as a premium food from the deep sea, is renowned for its rich nutritional value. According to data from the Institute of Nutrition and Health at China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, tuna boasts a protein content as high as 27.1g per 100g, placing it among the top ranks among fish species. Moreover, tuna is packed with an impressive array of amino acids, including all eight essential amino acids that the human body cannot synthesize on its own. Additionally, it is exceptionally rich in DHA, EPA, vitamin D, vitamin B12, as well as minerals like selenium and iodine. These vital nutrients not only help lower cholesterol and support healthy brain development but also play a key role in preventing anemia and protecting liver function. As a result, tuna has become the ideal choice for health-conscious individuals today—far surpassing both common deep-sea fish and conventional meats—and is easily digestible and highly absorbable by the human body.

Technological Innovation: A New Definition of Tuna's Value

The evolution of tuna processing techniques is a history of dialogue between human ingenuity and the ocean's bountiful gifts. From the earliest methods of simple salting and sun-drying to today's sophisticated processes powered by ultra-low-temperature cold-chain technology, tuna processing has always revolved around two core questions: how to preserve the ingredient's authentic flavor to the greatest extent possible, and how to fully harness the value of tuna resources.

In traditional techniques, where refrigeration technology was lacking, fishermen relied on methods like salt-curing and air-drying to preserve tuna, allowing it to transcend the constraints of time and develop a distinctive regional flavor. Yet, with the advancement of modern technology, tuna-processing techniques have undergone revolutionary changes. Shandong Lanrun Group, leveraging Rongcheng's unparalleled marine resources, has focused on high-value segments of the tuna industry, building a unique industrial chain that spans "ultra-low-temperature storage—precision processing—high-value utilization"—and creating a closed-loop system centered around "marine resources—biological transformation—precision nutrition." The company has established a comprehensive cold-chain logistics network, complete with -60°C ultra-low-temperature storage facilities equipped with cutting-edge refrigeration systems and insulation equipment, ensuring freshness from deep-sea origins all the way to consumers' tables. Stepping into Lanrun's standardized, sterile workshop, workers expertly peel, bone, and fillet the tuna, transforming it into premium products such as tuna sashimi and canned goods. Every step of the process adheres strictly to rigorous hygiene standards, guaranteeing both product safety and consistent quality.

Modern processing technologies not only preserve the natural, delicious flavor of tuna but also usher in a new era of "whole-fish utilization." At the Blue Run Group's Biotechnology R&D Center, laboratories have successfully developed an independently created "targeted enzymatic hydrolysis–low-temperature controlled enzymatic degradation technology." Using deep-sea tuna as the raw material, this advanced enzymatic process precisely breaks down the protein into bioactive small-molecule peptides with a molecular weight of less than 1,000 Daltons, ultimately extracting tuna collagen peptides. Since 2015, Blue Run Group has been dedicated to this pioneering project focused on tuna collagen peptides. The company boasts an independent R&D center, state-of-the-art analytical equipment, and a highly skilled research team, along with GMP-compliant production facilities. Additionally, it has introduced a complete, world-class production line specifically designed for tuna collagen peptide manufacturing, ensuring operations meet stringent 100,000-level cleanroom standards. Complemented by sophisticated testing instruments and scientifically rigorous methodologies, these cutting-edge resources firmly guarantee the production of premium-quality collagen peptide products.

Tuna collagen peptides are rich in a variety of amino acids, as well as trace elements such as selenium and calcium. Glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and other key amino acids not only form the structural backbone of collagen but are also essential for human health, playing critical roles in cellular repair and supporting the formation of connective tissues. Meanwhile, the peptides are packed with valuable trace minerals like organic selenium and calcium. Organic selenium acts as a powerful antioxidant, helping to enhance skin elasticity, neutralize free radicals, and maintain vascular flexibility—thus promoting collagen production in the skin, aiding in the repair of damaged tissue, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and boosting immune function to help prevent various diseases. Calcium, on the other hand, is vital for bone health, contributing to the maintenance of bone density and strength.

The journey of tuna—from the deep sea to the dinner table, and from traditional processing to high-value utilization—has enabled Rongcheng Tuna to forge a path of high-quality development. Guided by the "Maritime Power" strategy, the "Oceanic Gold" sourced from the deep sea is now reaching out to broader global markets, injecting fresh vitality into China's marine economic growth.