Fusheiyu Large Herring

Fusheiyu Large Herring

　　Herring is not only a large, precious, and specialty fish of Heilongjiang Province, but also one of China’s renowned freshwater delicacies. Its flesh is delicate, red in color, delicious in taste, extremely rich in fat, and of high nutritional value. Fushey County has been named the “Hometown of Chinese Large Herring.” Fusheiyu Large Herring is a product with geographical indication for agricultural produce.

　　The development of fisheries in the Fushey area has a long history. Archaeological excavations have shown that fishing activities existed in the Fushey region as early as before the Tang Dynasty, initiated by the ancestors of the Hezhe people and other ethnic minorities living along the Ussuri River. To this day, relying on its natural environment and resource advantages, fisheries remain one of the pillar industries of Fushey County. Born from and thriving because of fishing, Fushey County, located at the confluence of the Heilongjiang and Ussuri Rivers, is home to 105 species across 21 fish families, making it the region with the most comprehensive variety and highest yield of special fish species in Northeast China, as well as a major production area for large herring in the country. It has been named the “Hometown of Chinese Large Herring.”

　　Fushey County features two major river systems—the Heilongjiang and Ussuri Rivers—spanning a total of 268 kilometers within its borders. In particular, the county has numerous unpolluted lakes and pools. With a mild climate, abundant sunlight, ample rainfall, and a sound ecological environment, the area has established four extensive free-range fish farming bases, mainly including the Dali Jia Lake, Wulong Lake, Luqing River, and Shuangsheng bases. Herring is not only a large, precious, and specialty fish of Heilongjiang Province, but also one of China’s renowned freshwater delicacies. Its flesh is delicate, red in color, delicious in taste, extremely rich in fat, and of high nutritional value. It contains 14.9–23.3% protein, 8.7–17.8% fat, 61.4% water, and provides 13,840 calories per kilogram. It also offers more than 50 mg of calcium, over 1,500 mg of phosphorus, and greater than 0.07 mg of iron per kg. Additionally, it contains carbohydrates and various vitamins. Its eggs are crystal clear and pearl-like, rich in phosphates, calcium, and vitamins A and D, and are recognized as a fine delicacy for banquets. When salted into “herring roe,” it becomes the internationally renowned “red caviar,” which is immensely popular among the general public in Europe and America. In recent years, with the support of central, provincial, municipal, and local leadership, large-scale breeding bases for fishery resource conservation have been established, releasing 1 million herring fry annually, playing a significant role in the protection of fishery resources. It has now become the largest herring breeding base in the country, and Fushey County has been officially named the Hometown of Chinese Large Herring by the state.

　　Herring is one of China’s precious fish species. Belonging to the Salmonidae family, its flesh is pinkish, tender, and delicious, being high in protein and low in fat. Legend has it that during Emperor Taizong of Tang’s eastern campaign, he reached the banks of the Heilongjiang River during the White Dew season and was besieged by enemies, with no external reinforcements or internal provisions. At his wit's end, one of his ministers suggested, “Why not pray to the Jade Emperor to borrow fish from the Dragon King of the East Sea to relieve the hunger?” The Jade Emperor then ordered the Dragon King of the East Sea to dispatch a black dragon leading a school of salmon to guard the river. With fish to eat, the soldiers gained strength and achieved a great victory. Horses originally did not eat fish, but from then on, they began to eat salmon, and thus the salmon came to be called “horse fish.” Many years later, during another White Dew season, a tribal leader named Sherdaru and his forces were chased to the Ussuri River by enemies, with no way forward, pursuers behind, and no provisions left, in a critical situation. A strategist then advised Sherdaru, “Why not follow Emperor Taizong’s example and ask the Dragon King of the East Sea to lend fish to resolve the crisis?” Upon hearing this, the black dragon again led the salmon to the Ussuri River, saving Sherdaru, who then led his people to settle along the Heilongjiang and Ussuri Rivers. The descendants of these people are today’s Hezhe people. Hence, around the time of White Dew each year, large numbers of salmon arrive in the Heilongjiang and Ussuri Rivers. The Hezhe people call “horse fish” “Dawayima Ha,” which later evolved into the name “herring.” This story is recorded in the county annals.

　　Fusheiyu Large Herring is a product with geographical indication for agricultural produce.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Fushey County is located in the northeastern border of the motherland, between 133°40′–135°5′20" east longitude and 47°25′30"–48°27′40" north latitude, covering a total area of 6,262.48 square kilometers. It borders Russia across the Heilongjiang and Ussuri Rivers to the east and north, neighbors Raohe to the south, and connects with Tongjiang to the west. The main streams of the Heilongjiang and Ussuri Rivers within the county span 268 kilometers, and the area boasts abundant fishery resources, including 105 fish species across 72 genera and 21 families, of which 59 are economically important. Fushey County includes four directly administered towns—Haiqing Township, Zhuaji Town, Tongjiang Township, and Fushey Town—with 26,753 hectares of water surface, serving as crucial spawning and growth grounds for large herring, yielding over 30 tons of large herring annually.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Fusheiyu Large Herring (autumn species), somewhat spindle-shaped; gradually swelling from behind the head to the front base of the dorsal fin, with a compressed head and slightly protruding, slightly curved snout. The mouth gape is large, bird-beak-like. During the breeding season, the male fish shows particularly prominent features, with jaws curving towards each other like pincers, causing the upper and lower jaws not to meet. Each jaw has a row of sharp, inwardly curved teeth; except for the four larger pairs at the front of the lower jaw, the rest are small. The adipose fin is small and positioned far back. The tail fin is deeply forked. In the ocean, its body color is silvery white, but soon after entering rivers for migration, its color becomes very vibrant—the back and flanks turn yellow-green, gradually darkening to bluish-black, while the belly remains silvery white. There are 8–12 orange-red nuptial-colored transverse stripes on the flanks, more intense in females and larger in males. The snout, jaw, gill covers, and belly are bluish-black or dark grayish, while the anal and pelvic fins are grayish-white. It is a fierce carnivorous fish. Its flesh is delicate, red in color, and when steamed after cleaning, it delivers a wonderful umami blending both sea and river flavors—delicious, aromatic, and memorable. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Fusheiyu Large Herring is not only a large, precious, and specialty fish of Heilongjiang Province, but also one of China’s renowned freshwater delicacies. It contains ≥20% protein, ≥50 mg/kg calcium, ≥1,500 mg/kg phosphorus, ≥200 mg/kg magnesium, and unsaturated fatty acids accounting for over 80% of total fatty acids. Additionally, it contains carbohydrates and various vitamins. Its eggs are crystal clear and pearl-like, rich in phosphates, calcium, and vitamins A and D, and are recognized as a fine delicacy for banquets. When salted into “herring roe,” it becomes the internationally renowned “red caviar,” which is immensely popular among the general public in Europe and America. 3. Safety Requirements: Fusheiyu Large Herring complies with GB/T18407.4-2001 Agricultural Product Safety Quality – Requirements for Pollution-Free Aquatic Product Growing Environments; the production environment follows NY5051-2001 Pollution-Free Food – Freshwater Aquaculture Water Quality Standards; and the product standard is NY5053-2005 Pollution-Free Food – Common Freshwater Fish.