Yuexi Jumping Fish

Yuexi Jumping Fish

　　Yuexi Jumping Fish is a specialty of Yuexi Township, Ninghai County, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. Yuexi Township is a leading aquaculture hub in Zhejiang. Among its aquatic industries, jumping fish farming is emerging as a new source of prosperity for local farmers.

　　Locally known as "mudskippers," these fish live in shallow coastal mudflats and are highly nutritious, often referred to as the "ginseng of the water." They are a popular first meat dish for children in Ninghai. There is a local custom that when Ninghai children start eating meat, they begin with jumping fish, and it’s believed that if a child falls, their head won’t hit the ground. There’s also a saying: “A child who eats jumping fish at their first meat meal will have a prosperous life.” This coming-of-age dining ritual honors traditional Ninghai customs while carrying heartfelt blessings and hopes for the child’s future.

　　Jumping fish farming has become a new source of prosperity for local farmers in Yuexi Township. As a leading aquaculture hub in Zhejiang, Yuexi’s aquaculture zone lies within the 100-kilometer farming belt of Sanmen Bay, boasting superior hydrological conditions—with over 95% of seawater quality rated Class II or III, ranking among the best in China’s coastal counties and cities. Farmed species include blue crab, swimming crab, whiteleg shrimp, blood clam, mudskipper, and razor clam. Large-scale mudskipper farming in Yuexi began in 2005, and the current farming area covers 1,500 acres, making it the largest mudskipper farming base in the province. Annual production reaches 75 tons, with an output value exceeding 6.7 million yuan. Since the first Yuexi Jumping Fish Festival in 2008, the township’s aquatic products have gained increasing brand recognition, attracting numerous merchants for procurement and boosting farmers’ incomes. It is reported that from January to September this year, Yuexi achieved 210 million yuan in marine aquaculture output, a year-on-year increase of 20%. The marine economy now accounts for over 85% of the total agricultural economy.