Grass Carp from Zhanghe Reservoir

Grass Carp from Zhanghe Reservoir

Grass Carp from Zhanghe Reservoir is a product with geographical indication.

　　The farming history of grass carp from Zhanghe Reservoir can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD). By the 1970s, it had reached a considerable scale, with the peak farming area covering 220,000 mu across the region. After years of market selection, the area eventually stabilized at 150,000 mu. In recent years, through the protection of Zhanghe Reservoir water quality, the grass carp industry has gradually shifted from high-yield to high-quality, high-efficiency, and pollution-free production. The grass carp from Zhanghe Reservoir has a long farming history, and its excellent water quality and ecological farming methods give it a distinctly unique flavor. First, it is “tender”: the fish feeds on natural bait, resulting in fine, smooth, and tender meat with soft bones and strong muscle fiber resilience that doesn’t break easily even after long cooking, making it noticeably different from artificially farmed grass carp. Second, it is “fresh”: free from the unpleasant smells associated with fertilized reservoir farming or the muddy odor of lake fish, as well as the off-putting scents of river-caught fish exposed to domestic wastewater, its taste is naturally sweet and pure, leaving a lasting fragrance with a fully natural flavor—truly a premium fish. Third, it is “crisp”: the flesh is firm, refreshing, and crisp. When sliced, the muscle tissue remains taut and elastic with fish threads that don’t easily break, offering a uniquely crisp and delicious taste.

　　 Geographical Scope

　　Grass carp from Zhanghe Reservoir are produced in Dongbao District, Jingmen City, including 27 villages across Zhanghe Town, Mahe Town, Lixi Town, and Xianju Township. Among them, Zhanghe Town includes 16 villages (Fenghuotai Village, Chenjing Village, Xiehuaqiao Village, Fujvillage, Tongle Village, Suyuan Village, Suji Village, Sanhua Village, Xinfeng Village, Yulin Village, Xiongfeng Village, Yingjie Village, Jinghe Village, Luuhe Village, Xiaogang Village, and Xiangshan Village). Lixi Town includes 3 villages (Jinhua Village, Exiang Village, and Jianshan Village). Mahe Town includes 6 villages (Bainihé Village, Mazui Village, Yifan Village, Guanmiaogang Village, Shuanghe Village, and Yuanzihe Village). Xianju Township includes 2 villages (Zhenzhu Village and Xiaohe Village). The suitable farming area lies between 110°49' to 112°07'53" east longitude and 30°56'03" to 31°14'43" north latitude. The farming region of Zhanghe Reservoir grass carp is part of the central low mountainous area of Hubei, primarily consisting of black loam and sandy loam soils rich in trace elements needed for fish growth and high in organic matter with good breathability. The basic climate is that of the mid-latitude northern subtropical monsoon zone, featuring abundant rainfall, ample sunshine, a long frost-free period, and distinct seasons—wet springs, hot summers, cool autumns, and cold winters. The annual average temperature ranges from 17.3°C to 17.9°C, with annual precipitation between 1367.6 mm and 1485.6 mm, 126 to 147 rainy days per year, sunshine duration from 1604.3 to 1909.9 hours, and a frost-free period of 243 days. The water quality of Zhanghe Reservoir is mainly Class I and II, with a pH of 6.6, an average dissolved oxygen level of 8.153 mg/L, an average biochemical oxygen demand of 1.95 mg/L, an average ammonia nitrogen level of 0.214 mg/L, and an average nitrite level of 0.013 mg/L. The reservoir water meets the standards of the "Fishery Water Quality Standards of the People's Republic of China" and the national Class II drinking water standards. Zhanghe Reservoir is located in Zhanghe Town, Dongbao District, Jingmen City, Hubei Province. It is a reservoir system formed by damming the eastern branch of the Zuozhang River—a tributary of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River’s northern bank, the Zhanghe River—and its tributaries, connected by three open channels. In 1997, it was approved as a provincial scenic area by the provincial government. Zhanghe Reservoir is a renowned national AAA-level scenic spot and a national water conservancy scenic area. It has a catchment area of 2,212 square kilometers, a surface area of 104 square kilometers, and a water storage capacity of 2.035 billion cubic meters. The reservoir contains 36 islands, 164 peninsulas, and 24 distributaries. It is a multi-purpose water conservancy project primarily for irrigation and is one of China’s well-known artificial reservoirs, stretching 202 kilometers in length with a drainage basin of 2,980 square kilometers. The Zhanghe Reservoir basin covers Zhanghe Town, Lixi Town, Mahe Town, and Xianju Township. The total farming area is 150,000 mu, with an annual aquatic product output of 23,000 tons and an annual fisheries output value of 260 million yuan.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: The grass carp has an elongated body, slightly cylindrical in the front and laterally compressed at the rear, with a round belly but no ventral keel. The head is medium-sized and relatively wide. It is covered with large, round scales, and the lateral line is slightly curved in the middle of the body. The largest known individual weighs 40 kilograms. 2. Quality Characteristics: The grass carp from Zhanghe Reservoir has firm, crisp, and resilient meat that holds up well during cooking. Its flesh is tender, and even when sliced, the muscle fibers remain intact. The taste is uniquely delicious. The carp is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which benefit blood circulation, making it an excellent food choice for cardiovascular patients. It also contains abundant selenium, which helps combat aging, improve skin health, and has certain preventive effects against tumors. For those who are underweight or have poor appetite, the tender yet non-greasy flesh can stimulate the appetite and provide nourishment. 3. Quality and Safety Regulations: During the natural farming process in the reservoir, the Freshwater Aquaculture Water Quality Standard NY5051-2001 is strictly enforced. During the hatching and fry-rearing stages, fish disease prevention follows a strategy of prioritizing prevention combined with control, including regular disinfection of fry-rearing ponds to effectively prevent disease outbreaks. During the fry-rearing period, only qualified commercial compound feeds are used, registered and approved by the commodity inspection bureau, adhering to the safety limits of NY5072-2002 for fishery compound feeds. Daily management includes establishing a dedicated team for quality control of geographical indication products, following the production procedures for such products, enforcing aquaculture quality and safety management rules, and conducting regular inspections by quality control officers. Water quality and environmental monitoring are carried out, and production bases ensure the maintenance of three types of records. Full-process control—from fish seed stocking to production management and product sales—is guaranteed, ensuring compliance with the “Production Technical Regulations for Geographical Indication Products.” The national GB1106 fishery water quality standards and NY5051 pollution-free freshwater aquaculture water quality standards are strictly implemented. Environmental requirements follow GB/T18407.4-2001 for pollution-free aquatic product origin environments, GB/T19000-2000 quality management systems, with standards and policies visibly displayed and rigorously enforced.