Dwell Fish from Dongping Lake

Dwell Fish from Dongping Lake

　　The Dwell Fish (Channa argus) belongs to the family Channidae under the order Perciformes. Also known as blackfish, snakehead fish, or mottled eel, it is a prized wild fish species. Before 1970, Dongping Lake had the highest population of Dwell Fish. A single boat could catch 20–30 kilograms in a day. It is said that in 1964, when the then-secondary lake was drained, one person could collect a “shoulder-load” — about 50 kilograms — of Dwell Fish from the lakebed mud in a single day. During the dry spells in the old lake area during the 1960s, large numbers of Dwell Fish were also caught, with the heaviest weighing up to 8 kilograms.

　　The Dwell Fish has a cylindrical body with a laterally flattened tail and a dark mottled color. As a bottom-dwelling carnivorous fish, it typically inhabits marshes, turbid ponds, river branches, and lakes with abundant aquatic plants. Juveniles feed mainly on plankton, while adults prey on fish, shrimp, clams, snails, and aquatic insects. The Dwell Fish grows rapidly: in the wild, an average fish weighs 142 grams at age one, 367 grams at two, 970 grams at three, and 1,750 grams at four. Breeding of Dwell Fish began in the 1970s, and artificial spawning techniques for fry are now well-established. Its diet mainly consists of small fish, shrimp, clam meat, earthworms, fly larvae, and slaughterhouse waste, supplemented with plant-based pellet feed from dead fish. The Dwell Fish has strong disease resistance and adapts well to harsh environments, with a survival rate of over 70%. It can be farmed at relatively high densities, yielding high production and offering 1–2 times the economic value of common freshwater fish. Its potential for artificial farming is promising.

　　Dwell Fish from Dongping Lake typically reach sexual maturity at around one jin (500 grams) in weight, with a fecundity of about 10,000–20,000 eggs. The spawning season runs from April to August, peaking in June. Spawning usually occurs in areas with abundant aquatic plants and muddy lakebeds. Thanks to the favorable conditions in Dongping Lake, the Dwell Fish resources are abundant. In recent years, as living standards have improved, the demand for wild Dwell Fish has far outstripped supply, leading to a surge in artificial farming. The county has developed over 6,000 mu (about 400 hectares) of Dwell Fish farming, generating an additional income of 32.4 million yuan for local residents. To promote the sustainable and healthy development of this valuable species, the county’s fisheries authorities have provided technical training and guidance on fry cultivation, feeding, and disease prevention to boost yields.

　　Dwell Fish has tender, fatty meat with few fine bones. With 19.8% protein and 1.4% fat, it boasts a delicious flavor and has become a staple delicacy in high-end banquets.