Huanghua Swimming Crab

Huanghua Swimming Crab

Huanghua Swimming Crab is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Huanghua Swimming Crab is a specialty of Huanghua City, Cangzhou, Hebei Province. The Bohai three-spined swimming crab is the most important seafood product along the Huanghua coast, with peak production seasons from March to May and September to October.

　　Huanghua is under the jurisdiction of Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, and lies to the east of the Bohai Sea. It has a long history—the Qin Dynasty was the first to establish Liuxian County here. In 1943, Xinhai County and Qingcheng County within its territory merged to form XinQing County. In 1945, in honor of Huang Hua, an anti-Japanese hero and former deputy commander of the Jilu Border Military District who died in 1943, the Shandong Military Region renamed the area Huanghua County. It was upgraded to a city in 1989. Huanghua boasts a coastline of 65.8 kilometers and abundant natural resources. Since ancient times, it has been famed for “the dominance of fishing and salt industries,” with annual aquatic product yields accounting for 45% of Hebei Province’s total. Among these, Bohai prawns, swimming crabs, and silver pomfrets are particularly prized.

　　The three-spined swimming crab is the largest species of crab in China. It is a strong swimmer and also adept at digging in mud and sand, often lying in wait near the seabed or estuaries. It is fierce, combative, highly reproductive, and grows quickly. At the end of March, crab groups move to shallow waters to spawn, with the largest egg-bearing individuals reaching up to 750 grams. The peak spawning period is from mid to late April. From the first juvenile stage to maturity, it typically takes about three years. Nearshore spawning grounds have over 80% female crabs, whereas offshore areas tend to have more males. The main fishing season is in April. According to veteran fishermen, the temperature during the overwintering period or the water temperature at overwintering sites significantly affects crab catch volumes. Crabs are plumpest around Guyu (Grain Rain), although they can also be caught in autumn, though they’re not as plump (though pre-overwintering males are particularly full and large, giving rise to the term “grain-stubble male crabs”). Male crabs are commonly called “pointed-belly,” immature males are known as “empty-belly,” and female crabs are called “round-belly.” Female crabs are generally preferred, and those carrying eggs are referred to as “pomegranate yellows.” Prices between male and female crabs vary greatly. The crab meat is white, abundant, tender, and the roe is smooth like congealed fat, offering a delicious flavor. Especially the meat from their two pincer-like claws is thread-like with a sweet taste, while the crab roe is brightly colored and fragrant, providing a unique taste. For these reasons, it has long enjoyed great fame and is ranked the best among seafood.