Objective The aquaculture industry in Northwest China is undergoing a critical phase of expansion and transformation， yet the current talent cultivation models in aquaculture programs at local universities have not sufficiently met the region’s development needs. This study aims to explore how educational reforms， particularly the pilot reforms at Gansu Agricultural University， can enhance the supply of aquaculture professionals in Northwest China to support industry development.Method Through retrospective analysis， case studies， surveys， and field investigations， this study examines the reform practices of the aquaculture program at Gansu Agricultural University. The effects of faculty improvement， student cultivation optimization， and the refinement of disciplinary features are evaluated. The research methods include reviewing and summarizing the reform process， conducting effectiveness analysis， and collecting data through surveys and field investigations.Result The reforms have effectively improved students’ professional competencies and employment rates， with particularly outstanding performance in aquaculture employment within Northwest China.Conclusion The educational reforms provide an effective approach to addressing the shortage of aquaculture professionals in Northwest China and offer valuable insights for similar educational reforms in other regions.