Danjiangkou Bighead Carp

Danjiangkou Bighead Carp

Danjiangkou Bighead Carp is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Danjiangkou Bighead Carp is a specialty of Danjiangkou City, Shiyan, Hubei Province. Commonly known as "Ma Lian" or "Fathead Fish," Danjiangkou Bighead Carp has received national organic product certification for four consecutive years. As the saying goes, "The beauty of bighead carp lies in its head," and it enjoys an excellent reputation in the market.

　　Relying on the unique water quality, depth, aquatic environment, as well as geographical and cultural resources of the Danjiangkou Reservoir, Danjiangkou City has vigorously developed a three-dimensional, circular, and healthy ecological fish farming and breeding model, along with standardized production techniques. The unique "lake effect" and aquatic environment of the Danjiangkou Reservoir area endow "Danjiangkou Bighead Carp" with distinctive intrinsic qualities.

　　Danjiangkou Bighead Carp is commonly known as "Ma Lian" or "Fathead Fish." From 2009 to the present, Danjiangkou Bighead Carp has received national organic product certification for four consecutive years. As the saying goes, "The beauty of bighead carp lies in its head," and it enjoys an excellent reputation in the market. Currently, the city’s annual output exceeds 8,000 tons, with sales revenue surpassing 100 million yuan, including 56 million yuan from deep processing. This benefits 40,000 local fishermen.

　　Danjiangkou Bighead Carp is a high-protein, low-fat, and low-cholesterol fish. Authoritative tests show that every 100 grams of bighead carp contains 15.3 grams of protein and 0.9 grams of fat. Additionally, Danjiangkou Bighead Carp is rich in nutrients such as vitamin B2, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. It also contains abundant phospholipids and posterior pituitary hormones that improve memory, especially with a high content of brain marrow. Regular consumption can warm the stomach, relieve dizziness, boost intelligence, enhance memory, delay aging, nourish the skin, and protect the cardiovascular system.

　　As of 2013, the city’s bighead carp output was 4,423 tons, primarily sourced from large-reservoir fishing, cage-free scattered farming, and cage polyculture. In the future, the city will gradually phase out cage farming in the Danjiangkou Reservoir and adopt an "eco-friendly, natural-release" breeding approach. Using the standards of "Qiandao Lake Organic Fish," the city aims to develop its aquatic products—including bighead carp—with superior quality, promoting the "Danjiang Fish" brand through excellence.

　　The production area of Danjiangkou Bighead Carp covers the administrative regions of 12 towns and subdistricts under the jurisdiction of Danjiangkou City, Hubei Province: Junxian Town, Liuliping Town, Xijiadian Town, Liangshuihe Town, Langhe Town, Dingjiaying Town, Longshan Town, Wudang Mountain Economic Development Zone, Niuhe Forestry Development and Management Area, Sanguandian Subdistrict Office, Daba Subdistrict Office, and Danzhao Road Subdistrict Office.