Carp from Dahuofang Reservoir

Carp from Dahuofang Reservoir

Carp from Dahuofang Reservoir is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Carp from Dahuofang Reservoir is a specialty of Dongzhou District, Fushun City, Liaoning Province.

　　Carp from Dahuofang Reservoir is a traditional wild variety from the Hun River system in Fushun and is highly favored by locals. Legend has it that Nurhaci, the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty, rose to power in Xinbin and later established his capital in Shenyang. At that time, a large amount of construction material was transported from Xinbin, and many supplies were brought back from Shenyang to his hometown. This area was a key transit route for horse-drawn carts, so kitchens (伙房, "huǒfáng") were set up along the way. One day, while Nurhaci and his generals were discussing matters by the water, they suddenly heard the sound of fish leaping out of the water. Following the noise, they saw a group of yellow carp jumping out of the water. The generals immediately knelt down and proclaimed, “This is an auspicious sign from heaven, foretelling our lord’s rise to imperial glory and great achievements.” Since then, this carp has become an essential dish at important gatherings, housewarmings, school celebrations, and weddings. Dahuofang Reservoir is located at a relatively high latitude, resulting in lower air and water temperatures compared to other bodies of water. Additionally, the reservoir is rich in submerged vegetation and benthic organisms, which contribute to the carp here being superior in both quality and taste compared to carp from other regions.

　　Region: Liaoning

　　Applicant: Fushun Fisheries Society

　　Year of designation: 2014

　　Geographical Scope

　　Dahuofang Reservoir is located in Dongzhou District, Fushun City, Liaoning Province, formed by the convergence of the Hun River, Suzi River, and She River. It lies between 124°04′–124°21′ east longitude and 41°50′–41°56′ north latitude, covering a fish farming area of 70 square kilometers. The reservoir is 18 kilometers from downtown Fushun and is surrounded by four townships and 23 villages.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External sensory characteristics: The carp has a spindle-shaped, elongated and uniform body, with a small head, short tail, high and wide back, and plump belly, giving it a robust and well-proportioned appearance. Its scales are large; the back scales are light yellowish-brown, while the side scales are golden yellow. When freshly caught, the fins on the chest, belly, hips, and tail are golden yellow and orange-red, with the belly being white or yellowish-white—making its color more golden than that of farmed carp. It adapts well to various living environments and has a broad diet. The fish feels smooth to the touch, jumps vigorously, and has a mild fishy smell but a rich umami flavor. (2) Internal quality: The carp from Dahuofang Reservoir is not only high in protein content but also of excellent quality. It contains high levels of calcium and iron, with a well-balanced composition and proportion of various amino acids, providing essential amino acids, minerals, and vitamins needed by the human body. Each 100 grams of Dahuofang Reservoir carp contains 17.4–17.5 grams of protein, 1.8–7.73 grams of fat, and 0.036–0.166 grams of vitamin B2, while each kilogram contains 177–736 milligrams of calcium and 3.9–24 milligrams of iron. In comparison, ordinary carp typically contains around 17.0 grams of protein, which is lower than that of Dahuofang Reservoir carp. (3) Safety requirements: Since 2004, Dahuofang Reservoir has been certified as a pollution-free agricultural product production area, with certificate number: WNCR-LN04-20008. In recent years, it has maintained organic food certification, with certificate number: 1000P1200364. Product quality and safety strictly comply with laws and regulations such as the "Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China," "Product Quality Law of the People's Republic of China," "Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," and "Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," as well as organic food and pollution-free aquatic product production technical specifications and quality standards (NY5053-2005). The reservoir enforces strict breeding management practices and adheres to national standards including GB/T19630.4-2011, the Fisheries Water Quality Standard (GB11607-97), and national standards for organic food certification.