Public Security County Crayfish

Public Security Crayfish

　　Public Security crayfish is a specialty of Public Security County in Jingzhou City, Hubei Province. Known for its delicious taste, affordability, and high nutritional value, Public Security crayfish has gained widespread popularity. Its exports have been increasing year after year, and consumption continues to grow.

　　In recent years, drawing on its resource advantages and adapting to local conditions, Public Security County has followed the principles of “government guidance, public-led efforts, social participation, and market operation.” The county has made significant adjustments to its farming and breeding models, focusing on developing crayfish aquaculture with notable results. Currently, the county has developed 200,000 mu of wild-raised crayfish farming areas, including 182,000 mu of rice-crayfish rotation fields and 18,000 mu of pond polyculture. Crayfish production has reached 15,000 tons, with an output value of 240 million yuan, accounting for 12.2% of the county’s total fisheries output value. This has helped increase the average income of local farmers by over 200 yuan per person. At the same time, by collaborating with aquatic research institutions such as Yangtze University and the Jingzhou Aquatic Science Research Institute, the county has successfully researched and trial-produced artificial breeding of crayfish, yielding over 200,000 juvenile crayfish. Building on this, the county has established six major crayfish seedling bases in villages such as Yuehu Village in Mahaoke Town, Lishu Village in Huangshantou Town, and Zhaling Village in Zhakou Town. These bases produce over 60 million juvenile crayfish and cultivate 6 million kilograms of broodstock annually. In 2013, the benefits of rice-crayfish rotation farming generally improved, with an average yield of about 1,200 jin (600 kg) of rice and over 200 jin (100 kg) of crayfish per mu, generating a comprehensive income exceeding 3,000 yuan. Duan Daokun, a farmer from Huangling Village in Mahaoke Town, developed 27 mu of rice-crayfish rotation fields, producing 8,500 jin (4,250 kg) of crayfish and 43,000 jin (21,500 kg) of rice, achieving a total output value of 156,000 yuan — including 102,000 yuan from crayfish and 54,000 yuan from rice — with an average net income of 4,617 yuan per mu.

　　Crayfish has become an important pathway to prosperity and a leading industry for farmers in the county.