Large Chen Yellow Croaker

Large Chen Yellow Croaker

Large Chen Yellow Croaker is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Distinctive Quality

　　　　Yellow croaker is the general term and common name for both large and small yellow croakers. Their scientific names are Pseudosciaena crocea (large yellow croaker) and Pseudosciaena polyactis (small yellow croaker), which are outstanding members of the family Sciaenidae under the order Perciformes and important commercial edible fish species in China. The large yellow croaker is entirely yellow. Its main differences from the small yellow croaker are: smaller scales, 8–9 rows of scales along the dorsal fin and lateral line, and the lower branches of the swim bladder’s ventral division having anterior and posterior smaller branches of equal length, with typically 26 vertebrae. The large yellow croaker generally measures 300–400 mm in length and weighs 400–800 g, with the largest reaching 750 mm in length and 4 kg in weight. It is a schooling, nearshore fish species found in the southern sea areas of China, the East China Sea, and the southern part of the Yellow Sea. The small yellow croaker is also entirely yellow, but has 5–6 rows of scales between the dorsal fin and the lateral line, and the lower branches of the swim bladder’s ventral division have the anterior smaller branch longer than the posterior one, with typically 29 vertebrae. The small yellow croaker usually measures 160–250 mm in length and weighs 200–400 g. It is a bottom-dwelling, schooling, migratory fish species distributed in China's East China Sea, inland seas, and Bohai Sea.

　　Wild yellow croaker from Large Chen has a long history and excellent quality, enjoying a strong reputation in the market. However, due to various reasons, the annual catch of wild yellow croaker has become very scarce. To save the nearly extinct large yellow croaker and meet consumer demand, with support from government departments, high-tech aquaculture techniques have been introduced. Deep-sea cage farming of yellow croaker is carried out in the waters around Large Chen. The marine environment there features high-quality water, high salinity, strong currents, and abundant live bait—conditions that align with the natural ecological requirements for the growth of large yellow croaker. As a result, the yellow croaker produced in this area has firm, elastic flesh, a delicious taste, and retains the characteristics of wild yellow croaker, making it a true origin-specific aquatic product.

　　“Choosing such an environment means higher farming risks and costs, but the natural tides here provide rich natural feed for the large yellow croaker. Even the artificial feed we use comes from pure natural marine sources, such as small fish and shrimp—we never use artificial compound feed. Our yellow croaker has a very good market performance. Although the farming cost is high, the selling price is also high,” said the person in charge of Taizhou Hualong Industry & Trade Co., Ltd., a company engaged in deep-sea cage farming of large yellow croaker in Jiaojiang. In December 2008, their “Large Chen Yang” brand large yellow croaker obtained organic product certification, winning strong favor among consumers.