A Single Yellow Croaker Enriches an Entire Island

From indiscriminate "knock-and-catch" fishing practices, to pioneering small cage aquaculture, and ultimately becoming China's largest deep-sea, storm-resistant cage farming base; from once fetching mere pennies per pound to now commanding thousands per fish... Over the years, Dacheng Island in Taizhou, Zhejiang, has devoted itself to cultivating "one fish", continuously unlocking the "code to shared prosperity" through coordinated development of agricultural industrialisation and island economic revitalisation.

Large-scale copper net cage sea-enclosed farming of large yellow croaker in Dachen Island. Photo by Pan Kanjun

Large yellow croaker is a key species in China's marine fish farming. The waters off Dachen Island, situated on the outer edge of Taizhou Bay in Zhejiang, converge cold and warm currents. With unimpeded tidal flows, nutrient-rich waters, abundant natural feed, and optimal temperature-salinity conditions, this area stands as a vital coastal production zone for large yellow croaker farming.

From the small wooden fish rafts of 1996 to the large-scale copper net enclosure system of 2021, bream farmer Chen Zhaode has witnessed the evolution of Dachen's industry.

"Yellow croakers cultivated within copper-mesh enclosures exhibit colouration, body shape, and flesh texture remarkably similar to their wild counterparts," Chen remarked. He explained that copper-mesh enclosures not only enhance storm resistance but also permit individual cage areas to expand to over ten thousand square metres, thereby advancing the ecological principles of healthier, higher-quality, and more environmentally sustainable yellow croaker farming.

Yang Xiaoping live-streaming sales of Dacheng yellow croaker. Photo courtesy of Yang Xiaoping

Zhou Haihua, a Dachen yellow croaker farmer with nearly a decade in the industry, has witnessed firsthand the sector's economic impact on Dachen Island. He noted that the establishment of yellow croaker enterprises has significantly addressed local labour shortages, with many farms re-employing former fishermen transitioning from traditional fishing. This shift towards modern aquaculture has boosted islanders' incomes and prosperity.

Taking his own company as an example, it employs around seventy to eighty workers across farming, harvesting, and transportation operations. This year's production volume and sales revenue have increased by 20% compared to last year. "From just over ten orders a day initially to over a hundred now, Dachen yellow croaker is in such high demand that supply struggles to keep up," Zhou remarked.

Currently, Dachen Island hosts 13 yellow croaker farming enterprises, eight farming bases, five large copper-mesh enclosures, and 710 deep-water cages, establishing it as China's largest deep-water cage farming zone for large yellow croaker. Annual production exceeds 4,000 tonnes with an output value of approximately 400 million yuan, accounting for roughly two-thirds of Zhejiang Province's yellow croaker output value – a 200% increase compared to the start of the 13th Five-Year Plan period.

Presently, leveraging "Internet Plus" initiatives, Dachen yellow croaker is being marketed nationwide.

"Hello everyone, I'm Little Fish. Do you know how to prepare yellow croaker at home?" On the other side of the mobile screen, young female presenter Yang Xiaoping continuously showcases the Dachen yellow croaker in her hands, instructing viewers on identifying wild yellow croaker and its preparation methods.

Born in the 1980s, Yang Xiaoping has resided on Dachen Island for over three years. The local environment shapes its people, and yellow croaker farming constitutes the primary income for Dachen fishermen—a role Yang herself embodies. By sharing daily activities such as catching, fishing for, weaving nets for, and cooking yellow croaker on video platforms, she has amassed over 50,000 followers.

Riding the wave of livestreaming commerce, she delivers fresh, delicious produce directly from the deep sea to dining tables, opening new sales channels for premium agricultural goods. Yang revealed that livestream sales can reach over 1,000 jin (500kg) in a single day. Moving forward, she plans to continue promoting Dachen yellow croaker to wider audiences through short videos and livestreaming platforms.

Yellow croaker murals, slogan walls, themed fitness trails, fish-print walls, lanterns, and pathways—every corner of Dacheng Island greets visitors with vibrant yellow croaker motifs, embellishing the island's coastal charm.

Home-cooked Dacheng yellow croaker. Photograph by Sun Jinbiao

This year, Dachen Town has focused on promoting its integrated fisheries-tourism development strategy of "strengthening the town through yellow croaker and revitalising it through tourism." Over ten visual landscapes featuring yellow croaker, fish schools, and ocean waves have been designed.

Scenes of fishing village life are painted on walls, while deep-sea fish are depicted on pathways. At the viewing platform of Guangyuan Fisheries Farming Base, a "Yellow Croaker Path" attracts numerous visitors for photo opportunities.

"The designer employed mosaic tiles to create a three-dimensional mural depicting yellow croaker swimming upstream, symbolising striving for excellence," explained a town official. Yellow croaker motifs also adorn the street lamps flanking the pathway.

LED lighting, pale blue water ripples, yellow croaker motifs... Stepping into the Dachen Yellow Croaker Cultural Exhibition Hall, a wave of modern technological flair greets visitors. "Through the interactive transparent screen system within the exhibition hall, visitors can gain an intuitive understanding of Dachen yellow croaker farming," stated an official from the town's Economic Development Office.

The painted yellow croakers on Dachen Island draw visitors for photo opportunities. Photo by Luan Yini

This application, integrating smart technology, vividly showcases Dachen Island's yellow croaker culture and industrial evolution through themes such as "Yellow Croakers in Our Memories", "Deep-rooted Yellow Croaker Farming", "Capital of East China Sea Yellow Croakers", and "Yellow Croaker Culture in Action", thereby enhancing the island's yellow croaker reputation.

Indeed, yellow croaker has long been an indispensable delicacy on Taizhou residents' dining tables. At Dachen Island's Ninety-Nine Beaver Restaurant, diverse yellow croaker dishes are must-try offerings for visitors.

"Home-style braised yellow croaker, scallion oil yellow croaker, soup-based yellow croaker, shepherd's purse yellow croaker, sweet and sour yellow croaker..." enumerated the restaurant manager, detailing their innovative yellow croaker offerings aimed at enriching flavours and winning over more diners.

A corner of the Dachen Yellow Croaker Culture Exhibition Hall. Photo by Luan Yini

Moreover, the integration of fishing and tourism has significantly improved the livelihoods of Dachen Island's residents.

Against the backdrop of Zhejiang Province's comprehensive digital reform, Dachen Island is actively planning projects that blend fishing and tourism. Leveraging its maritime resources, the island is cultivating industries such as marine leisure and sightseeing to drive high-quality development of its island economy.

By May 2021, Dachen Town in Jiaojiang District—where Dachen Island is located—had achieved a total fishery output value of ¥289.09 million and a seafood production volume of 30,830 tonnes. By the end of July 2021, tourist arrivals had reached 67,000.

"As Zhejiang's provincial-level specialised town for yellow croaker, Dachen yellow croaker has become both a distinctive competitive industry and the primary wealth-generating sector for Dachen," " Xia Ziyuan, Deputy Mayor of Dachen Town, explained that the next step will be to develop recreational fisheries, forming an industrial chain encompassing feeding, viewing, fishing, consuming and purchasing yellow croaker". This will drive the deep integration of fisheries and tourism, further cultivate deep processing and marketing of yellow croaker, explore the cultural heritage of Dachen yellow croaker, and encourage islanders to produce souvenir products such as yellow croaker dried fish. These measures will gradually advance the common prosperity of Dachen Island's residents.

Translator：周杰  Ivan