Rizhao Oriental Prawns

Rizhao Oriental Prawns

Rizhao Oriental Prawns are a product with a geographical indication.

　　Rizhao Oriental Prawns, also known as Chinese prawns, are characterized by their large size, laterally flattened body, thin, smooth and translucent shell, thick and succulent meat, delicious taste, unique flavor, and superior quality. They rank among the best of all shrimp species and top the list of the “Eight Delicacies of the Sea.” They represent a distinctive and competitive sector of the city’s fishery economy.

　　Rizhao is a water-rich area along the northern coast of China, boasting abundant freshwater resources, vast shallow seas, and extensive coastal mudflats. Nearly a hundred species of fish inhabit the nearby waters, making it one of China’s four major aquatic seedling breeding centers.

　　The Oriental prawn, also known as the Chinese prawn, is a premium aquatic product of Rizhao City. Rizhao is the birthplace of national prawn seedling cultivation and farming, home to the country’s only Oriental prawn broodstock farm and one of only two national shrimp industry technology system experimental stations in Shandong Province. In 2011, Rizhao Oriental Prawns were recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture as a protected product with geographical indication. Over the past 30 years, Rizhao has supported the national prawn farming industry in terms of seedling supply and farming techniques. The prawn farming and seedling production in Taoluo Town, Rizhao International Ocean City, leads the city. It annually supplies 20 billion nauplii and 2 billion juvenile prawns to coastal areas nationwide, with an annual output of 500 tons of farmed prawns. This significantly contributes to increasing fishermen’s income, boosting the prosperity of fishing communities, and improving people’s living standards.

　　Oriental prawns have tender, delicious meat, rich nutrition, and are beneficial for nourishing kidney yang, enriching yin, and strengthening the stomach. They offer certain therapeutic effects for conditions such as impotence, bone and joint pain, muscle spasms, general itching, and skin ulcers. Their shells also have dietary therapeutic benefits for neurasthenia, scalp sores, and scabies. Rizhao’s farmed Oriental prawns are large in size, laterally flattened, with thin, smooth and translucent shells, thick and succulent meat, delicious taste, unique flavor, and superior quality. They rank among the best of all shrimp species and are a distinctive and competitive sector of the city’s fishery economy.

　　Rizhao International Ocean City Kaixing Aquatic Products Co., Ltd. is the largest Oriental prawn production base in the city and also the largest pollution-free prawn production base. It has 3,000 acres of aquaculture waters and produces 150 tons of high-quality Oriental prawns annually. Its farming scale and technical level are leading in the nation.

　　Rizhao Oriental Prawns are a product with a geographical indication.

　　The production area of Rizhao Oriental Prawns includes the offshore waters and land-based farming ponds of Rizhao, with farming zones distributed across Liangcheng Town, Qinlou Subdistrict, Shijiu Subdistrict, Beijing Road Subdistrict, Kuishan Subdistrict, Taoluo Town, Hushan Town, Lanshan Tou Subdistrict, and Andongwei Subdistrict in Rizhao City, Shandong Province. The geographical coordinates are between 119°17′15″ to 120°15′00″ east longitude and 34°55′00″ to 35°35′53″ north latitude.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The geographical indication area for Rizhao Oriental Prawns covers offshore waters and land-based farming ponds in Rizhao, spanning 601,500 hectares. The region lies between 34°55′ to 35°35′53″ north latitude and 119°17′15″ to 120°15′ east longitude. There are approximately 1,160 fishing vessels operating in this area, with an annual catch of 150 tons. Farming zones are distributed across Liangcheng Town, Qinlou Subdistrict, Shijiu Subdistrict, Beijing Road Subdistrict, Kuishan Subdistrict, Taoluo Town, Hushan Town, Lanshan Tou Subdistrict, and Andongwei Subdistrict. This area has 100 farming households, covering 1,500 hectares of farming area, with an annual production of 1,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Rizhao Oriental Prawns are relatively large, with females measuring 18–24 cm and males 13–17 cm in length. They have a laterally flattened body, thin shell, thick and succulent meat, smooth and translucent appearance, bright color, and a plump, glossy look. When cooked, they turn uniformly orange-red, presenting an attractive and vibrant hue. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Rizhao Oriental Prawns are renowned for their delicious taste and rich nutrition, ranking among the best of all shrimp species and listed as one of the “Eight Delicacies of the Sea.” Their meat contains 18–21g of protein per 100g, 310–330mg/kg of calcium, 125–140mg of total phosphorus per 100g, and 21–35mg/kg of iron. 3. Safety Requirements: The production process and product sales of this product must comply with the “Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China,” “Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China,” “Safe Quality Requirements for Pollution-Free Aquatic Products” (GB18460.4-2001), “Technical Regulations for Ice Preservation of Catch” (SC/T3002-1988), and “Technical Regulations for Handling of Catch” (SC/T3003-1988).