Yellow Eel from Shizi Kou

Yellow Eel from Shizi Kou

　　Yellow eel from Shizi Kou is a specialty of Shizi Kou Town, Gong’an County, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province. The number of cage farms in Shizi Kou Town has reached 150,000, with 300 households operating more than 500 cages each.

　　In recent years, Shizi Kou Town in Gong’an County, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, has capitalized on its local aquatic resources. With the support of government initiatives, model demonstrations, and assistance from industry associations, the town has actively promoted contiguous development of its aquaculture industry, vigorously building a billion-yuan cage eel farming sector. Currently, the scale of cage eel farming in the town has reached 150,000 units, with an annual output of about 7.5 million jin (approximately 3,750 metric tons) and an output value of around 150 million yuan.

　　Hubei Gong’an Xufeng Yellow Eel Farming Co., Ltd. is located in Fahuasi Village, Shizi Kou Town, adjacent to Houjiahu Fish Farm. In recent years, the company’s yellow eel farming operations have expanded rapidly, with over 20,000 cages in use. It produces approximately 600,000 jin (about 300 metric tons) of yellow eel annually, generating around 18 million yuan in output value. Encouraged by government policies, the company also established a cooperative to boost the enthusiasm and scientific practices of nearby farmers. The Xuhai Cooperative was founded in June 2008, currently has 50 members, and includes over 100 base farmers. Eel farming area has expanded from just over 100 mu in 2002 to more than 1,000 mu today, benefiting farming households across more than 10 villages. In 2009, the cooperative developed over 60,000 cage units for eel farming. Since its establishment, the cooperative has provided members and farmers with comprehensive pre-production, production, and post-production services, effectively addressing technical and marketing challenges in eel farming. The cooperative exports its products to regions such as Sichuan, Shanghai, and Wuhan, ensuring minimal backlog of mature fish and creating solid economic returns for farmers.