Rizhao Golden Squid

Rizhao Golden Squid

Rizhao Golden Squid is an agricultural product with a geographical indication.

　　Rizhao Golden Squid is another major local specialty of Rizhao. Its habitat is concentrated in the offshore waters near the city. It is renowned for its plump body and delicious meat. Furthermore, its "cuttlefish roe," processed from its nidamental gland, has been a traditional tribute and gained fame at state banquets, making it a hallmark of Rizhao’s aquatic products. The Rizhao Golden Squid is a specialty of Lanshan District, Rizhao City, Shandong Province. It is one of the four major local specialties of Rizhao. Its habitat is concentrated in the offshore waters near Rizhao City, known for its plump body and delicious meat. Moreover, its "cuttlefish roe," processed from its nidamental gland, has been a traditional tribute and earned fame at state banquets, making it a signature of Rizhao’s aquatic products. In 2011, it was listed as a protected product under China's Agricultural Product Geographical Indication.

　　Rizhao Golden Squid

　　Geographical Scope

　　The Rizhao Golden Squid is a marine cephalopod mollusk. The offshore waters near Rizhao are its core spawning and feeding grounds. It is mainly distributed in coastal shallow seas within 20 meters deep, including Lanshan Subdistrict, Andongwei Subdistrict, and Hushan Town in Lanshan District; Kuishan Subdistrict and Beijing Road Subdistrict in Rizhao Economic and Technological Development Zone; Taoluo Town, Shijiu Subdistrict, Qinlou Subdistrict, and Liangcheng Town in Donggang District. The sea area ranges from 34°55′ to 35°35′ N latitude and 119°17′ to 120°10′ E longitude, covering an area of 600,000 hectares (including the 1,798-hectare Golden Squid National Aquatic Germplasm Resource Reserve). There are over 1,300 fishing vessels operating in this area, harvesting more than 1,000 tons of Rizhao Golden Squid annually.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: The Rizhao Golden Squid is a marine cephalopod mollusk and a unique and precious species native to Rizhao. Its mantle is shield-shaped, approximately 1.5 times as long as it is wide. The back and belly are slightly flattened, with narrow fins along the sides that do not fuse. Five pairs of arms grow around the mouth at the front of the head. Four pairs are shorter, thick, of similar length, and have four rows of suckers. The male’s left fourth arm is hectocotylized. One pair of longer tentacular arms slightly exceeds the mantle length; the club is crescent-shaped, about one-fifth the total arm length, with suckers only at the tip—small and dense, about ten rows. The calcareous internal shell is well-developed, long-oval shaped, about 2.5 times as long as it is wide, with hard, granular calcareous protrusions on the back, arranged in roughly concentric rings from the rear, and a robust posterior spine. The body color is golden yellow; males have relatively coarse transverse stripes on the mantle back, interspersed with fine spots, while females have only dense fine spots. It is relatively large in size, with mature spawning individuals having a mantle length of 14–28 cm and a weight generally over 500 g, reaching up to over 1,200 g. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: The flesh of the Rizhao Golden Squid is thick, reaching about 1.2 cm, with snow-white color, crisp and tender texture, and a uniquely delicious flavor. In fresh meat: protein content ≥12g/100g; calcium ≥118mg/kg; iron ≥38mg/kg; total phosphorus ≥119mg/100g. It is a low-fat, high-nutrition food with high gourmet value. 3. Quality and Safety Regulations: The sale and production of Rizhao Golden Squid must comply with standards such as the “Safety Quality Requirements for Pollution-Free Aquatic Products” (GB18460.4—2001), the “Technical Regulations for Ice Preservation of Catch on Board Fishing Vessels” (SC/T3002—1988), and the “Technical Regulations for Handling Catch” (SC/T3003—1988).