Abstract:Seaweed farming is an important form of carbon sink fisheries, which plays a significant role in ecological functions of carbon sink.In this paper, the yields and structures of Chinese and Zhejiang coastal algae farming were analyzed, and their carbon sink capacity was also estimated, based on the data of "Chinese Fishery Statistical Yearbook" from 1999 to 2012.The average annual production of algae in China was about 1 418 700 t.Chinese main marine algae were kelp, undaria, laver and gracilaria, which accounted for 60.29%, 7.92%, 5.67% and 5.39% respectively.Zhejiang's main marine algae were laver, kelp, Sargassum fusiforme and Enteromorpha prolifra, and their proportion was about 51.83%(laver), 27.73%(kelp), 12.72%(Sargassum fusiforme), and 1.27%(Enteromorpha prolifra).Although the portion of Zhejiang's marine algae production was only 2.55% out of total national production, the breeding structure was unique.In comparing with national data, certain kinds of Zhejiang's algae showed a higher yield, which had percentages of 83.00%(Enteromorpha prolifra), 68.29%(Sargassum fusiforme), and 23.53%(laver).Overall, Chinese marine algae carbon sink capacity demonstrates upward trend from 1999 to 2012.The highest carbon sink was up to 515 000 t in 2012, while the annual carbon sink capacity was 418 500 t.The annual average carbon sink of Chinese kelp was 264 500 t/a, which took up the highest proportion within all kinds of algae, followed by undaria 32 300 t/a, laver 22 400 t/a, and gracilaria 20 100 t/a.The annual algae carbon sink capacity of Zhejiang marine culture was 10 300 t, 2.47% of the corresponding national data.In order to meet the needs of the development of the low carbon economy, we suggest that natural carbon sink and its environment protection and management should be strengthened, and carbon fisheries should also be developed.In addition, technology and industry demonstration projects on carbon sink fisheries, marine biological carbon sink function and more potential of carbon sink fisheries basic scientific research should be carried out.