Taishan Eel

Taishan Eel

Taishan eel is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Taishan City boasts uniquely favorable conditions for eel farming. In recent years, the Taishan eel industry has continued to grow and strengthen, forming a complete industrial chain encompassing feed production, logistics, farming, water conditioning for export, deep processing, and re-export, delivering significant economies of scale.

　　Guangdong’s Taishan City is China’s largest eel farming and production base, as well as the largest eel export base. The Taishan region (including nearby areas such as Xinhui, Yangjiang, and Zhongshan—though Taishan has the highest eel farming volume and largest farming area, collectively referred to here as Taishan) is located in south-central Guangdong, facing the South China Sea, with consistently high temperatures year-round, making it ideal for aquaculture. Over the years, the eel farming industry has rapidly expanded, attracting investors from Taiwan, Shunde, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and other regions who have developed eel ponds in Taishan’s towns such as Chonglou, Duifen, Guanghai, Doushan, Douhu, and Haiyan. These investors typically develop farms spanning several thousand mu, or at minimum five to six hundred mu, with large-scale farms often clustered together to form concentrated development zones, each covering thousands to even tens of thousands of mu.

　　 Currently, Taishan has over 60,000 mu of earthen-pond eel farms, producing more than 60,000 tons of eels annually, making it China’s—and the world’s—largest eel farming base, occupying a pivotal position.

　　Thanks to standardized farming practices, the quality of Taishan eels has improved further, allowing for higher export prices. Xu Liming, president of the Guangdong Eel Industry Association, revealed that from January to November this year, Taishan exported over 6,000 tons of live eels. Although affected by the financial crisis, the total volume of live eel exports dropped by about 20% compared to the same period last year, the improved quality has led to a price increase of approximately 20% year-on-year.

　　Rapid Industrial Development

　　Taishan Eels “Swim” to the World

　　Eel farming in Taishan began in 1993, with an initial farming area of just 3.3 hectares and an annual output value of over 1.3 million yuan. Large-scale development started in 1995, and by 2000, there were 20 eel farms in Taishan, covering 1,000 hectares with an annual output of over 6,000 tons and an output value of 250 million yuan. Between 2001 and 2002, due to a downturn in the international market, the industry contracted slightly. However, after 2003, as global eel prices rose, the industry regained vitality. Since then, various levels of government in Taishan have provided strong support to the eel farming sector through preferential policies on land transfer fees and taxes, actively attracting agricultural investment and introducing several leading agricultural enterprises with substantial resources. The eel farming industry in Taishan has grown from small to large, eventually becoming the country’s largest eel farming base and a key supply hub for roast eel raw materials.

　　By promoting development through standardization and upgrading via certification, Taishan’s eel farming has in recent years increasingly demonstrated distinct characteristics of scale, ecology, and standardization. These factors have become a powerful driver of local socioeconomic development, attracting significant attention from major domestic and international media. The CCTV Agricultural Channel’s “Daily Agriculture” program once visited Taishan to produce a special feature on Taishan eels, filming and reporting comprehensively to showcase them to the Chinese public. Hong Kong’s TVB Jade also aired a special report on Taishan eels on September 6 of this year. From September 30 to October 2, a delegation of Taishan eel farming enterprises participated in China’s first “Dragon Star” Eel Festival held in Shunde District, Foshan, helping boost consumer awareness of eel products and thus driving the growth of the eel farming industry.

　　Superior Ecological Environment

　　“Five-Star” Farming Facilities

　　Taishan’s eel farming benefits from inherent ecological advantages. Located at a low latitude, south of the Tropic of Cancer, the city enjoys a uniquely favorable natural environment with abundant sunlight, mild climate, and plentiful light, heat, and water resources—all of which facilitate rapid material and energy conversion. Moreover, Taishan features solid geological conditions with good water retention, ample reservoir water sources, and no industrial pollution, resulting in stable water bodies and water quality. These are rare and highly conducive conditions for eel farming. Additionally, the region’s soil has a relatively high iron content and a pH level well-suited for eel growth, enabling unit yields roughly 30% higher than those in other areas under similar farming conditions.

　　During an inspection of Taishan eels, the U.S. FDA was amazed by the superior farming environment, standardized practices, and comprehensive management, describing Taishan eels as living in “five-star” farming facilities.

　　Given its outstanding ecological environment, China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine once invited envoys from 14 countries stationed in China to visit Taishan and inspect the Xulong Group’s Taishan Lüsheng Food Co., Ltd.—a Chinese enterprise using Taishan eels as raw materials—to showcase the real situation of China’s food processing industry to foreign guests. Taishan eels, with their excellent quality, helped uphold the image of Chinese food products.

　　Large-Scale Farming

　　Annual Output Accounts for 60% of National Total

　　Today, Taishan eel farms are spread across 10 towns, including Doushan, Sijiu, and Guanghai, with a total farming area of 3,066 hectares. Among these, the towns of Duifen, Doushan, and Chonglou have formed a contiguous eel farming base covering 1,500 hectares.

　　After being designated as a national Class I agricultural standardization demonstration zone in 2008, Taishan’s eel farming became even more specialized. Initially, the demonstration zone covered 500 hectares, with 85 eel farming enterprises registered and approved by inspection and quarantine authorities. In 2008, the annual output reached 40,000–50,000 tons, accounting for around 60% of the national eel output, with an annual output value of 400–500 million USD. Among these, five demonstration households achieved a yield of 12,000 kg per hectare. According to data, eels produced in the demonstration zone are mainly exported to Japan, South Korea, Russia, and various European and American countries. Last year, the export volume of live eels was approximately 8,000–10,000 tons, representing 70%–80% of the national total, while roast eel exports totaled about 15,000–20,000 tons, accounting for around 30% of the national total. In addition, Taishan live eels also supply markets in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, as well as processing plants in Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang.