Dongsha Mud Crab

Dongsha Mud Crab

Dongsha Mud Crab is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Dongsha Mud Crab is a specialty of Yunxiao, characterized by its plump shape, bright reddish shell, fragrant and tender meat, delicate texture, golden roe, and well-balanced saltiness—free from both overly briny or muddy freshwater odors.

　　　Yunxiao County is situated along the southeastern coast and has a South Asian tropical maritime monsoon climate, with ever-spring-like weather, abundant sunshine, and a pleasant climate. The area features a well-developed water system, ample freshwater resources, and extremely rich marine fishery resources, producing premium aquatic products such as mud clams, Dongsha Mud Crab, and blood cockles.

　　　　According to the "Yunxiao County Annals," the county possesses 188,100 mu of freshwater and inland seawater surfaces, of which 109,500 mu are suitable for aquaculture. The inland and shallow sea areas with depths within 10 meters cover 99,900 mu, and there are 34,000 mu of tidal flats, mainly located in the Zhangjiang Bay and Dongshan Bay regions. Zhangjiang Bay, situated in the southeastern part of the county, is where the Zhangjiang River and its tributaries converge. Located at the central point of Dongsha Town, the bay is olive-shaped, wide in the middle and narrow at the mouth, with smooth tidal currents. The upstream river basin has a catchment area of 867.21 square kilometers, and the climate is mild, merging with Dongshan Bay to create moderately saline waters. In this region, there are 2,360 hectares of nationally protected mangrove plants. Mangroves play a unique role in soil conservation, maintaining ecological diversity, and naturally purifying seawater quality. Surveys indicate that the area is home to 33 species of phytoplankton such as various unicellular algae and 33 species across 7 categories of zooplankton, with highly abundant seawater nutrients. In Zhangjiang Bay, there are two tides daily, and during low tide, large expanses of muddy tidal flats are exposed. These flats absorb sunlight, promoting photosynthesis and accelerating the growth of flora and fauna, thereby enhancing product quality and giving the local seafood its tender and crisp texture.

　　　　Dongsha Mud Crab is a specialty of Yunxiao, characterized by its plump shape, bright reddish shell, fragrant and tender meat, delicate texture, golden roe, and well-balanced saltiness—free from both overly briny or muddy freshwater odors.

　　　　Dongsha Mud Crab is cultivated in tidal flats. Historically, the farming area covered 15 villages in Dongsha Town, including Zhuta, Dongqi, Wuqiu, Changlong, Daiyang, Baita, Zhoudou, Jiazhou, Wutian, Hedu, Hezhong, Hexi, Xitang, Chuangchang, and Dongsha. Between 1993 and 1995, the Dongsha Town government of Yunxiao County vigorously promoted regional product advantages, leveraging existing aquatic resources to enrich villages and benefit residents. In collaboration with the county's aquatic science and technology station, they promoted crab farming, establishing the “Dongsha Ten-Thousand-Mu Aquaculture Base.” In the reclaimed land area—Dongfengdai—they carried out a thousand-mu demonstration project for Mud Crab farming techniques, expanding the farming area to 6,000 mu within three years. This farming technique was awarded the Second Prize for Technological Promotion by the Provincial Science and Technology Department in October 1995. Through continuous development, by the end of 2010, the farming area had reached nearly 15,000 mu, with an output value of approximately 120 million yuan.