Oujiang Colorful Carp

Oujiang Colorful Carp

　　　　Product Name: Oujiang Colorful Carp

　　Place of Origin: Oujiang River, Lishui

　　Product Features: Tender texture, rich in nutrients

　　Product Introduction: Longquan City in Zhejiang Province is situated in the upper reaches of the Oujiang River basin in the southwestern part of the province. It enjoys a mild climate, abundant natural resources, picturesque landscapes, and a forest coverage rate of 77%, earning it the reputation of the "Forest Sea of Southern Zhejiang." The area receives ample rainfall and has fresh water quality, providing ideal conditions for developing "green fisheries" and making it a great place for cultivating pollution-free aquatic products.

　　Oujiang Colorful Carp, commonly known as "field fish," is a locally farmed species in the Oujiang River basin with over 1,200 years of breeding history. This fish is an essential dish for every family during local festivals. In ancient times, the dried version of this fish, along with Longquan celadon and swords, were tributes to the imperial court. However, it has always remained a farmhouse-raised variety without scientific improvement.

　　Preliminary research has found that Oujiang Colorful Carp grows rapidly, has a tender texture, and is rich in nutrients, with one of its most notable features being its soft and edible scales, making it a premium choice among edible fish. Not only does it exhibit strong adaptability and the ability to thrive on coarse feed, making it suitable for high-density farming in ponds and cages — thus offering a path to prosperity for farmers in mountainous regions — but it also comes in a rich variety of vibrant body colors including red, white, and calico. Its colorful appearance rivals that of Japan’s famous koi fish, showing great potential for development as an ornamental fish.

　　Product History: Oujiang Colorful Carp is a "sleeping jewel" of a thousand years and a newly developed aquaculture variety. The Longquan Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government place great emphasis on the protection, development, and research of Oujiang Colorful Carp. In recent years, they have invested over ten million yuan to build an Oujiang Colorful Carp germplasm farm at the foot of Fengyang Mountain, a national nature reserve. The farm has now reached an initial scale, covering an area of 185 mu. At the same time, efforts have been made to vigorously promote the farming of carp in rice paddies and cages. In 2000, the production from these two forms of farming reached 700 tons, and it is estimated to exceed 1,100 tons in 2001. The ecologically farmed, healthily cultivated Oujiang Colorful Carp is truly a "pollution-free green food." To enhance the scientific standards of germplasm research, conservation, and development of Oujiang Colorful Carp, the Longquan Municipal Government has specially invited leading experts such as Professor Li Sifa from Shanghai Ocean University to serve as advisors. Currently, Professor Li and his team are working closely with local researchers to study the germplasm resources and development potential of Oujiang Colorful Carp. It is believed that in the near future, through purification, enhancement, and scientific improvement, faster-growing, higher-yielding edible carp strains and more vividly colored ornamental carp strains — the "Chinese Koi" — will shine brightly across Zhejiang, the nation, and even the world. We sincerely welcome friends from home and abroad to collaborate and develop the Oujiang Colorful Carp together.