Thirty years ago, it could be seen everywhere in mountain streams and Brooks. Nowadays, wild fine-scaled fish have been listed as a second-class protected animal in China and are on the verge of extinction!
However, the artificially farmed fine-scaled fish has made a comeback to become the "king of sky-high priced fish", still in short supply even when sold at 160 yuan per jin!
Once a tribute to the imperial court of the Song Dynasty, it is now a "luxury item" in high-end restaurants. What magic does this fish have?
The fine-scaled fish, also known as "fine-scaled salmon", is a cold-water fish unique to China, named for its small scales. Thirty years ago, it could be seen everywhere in the mountain streams of Northeast and Northwest China, and was even caught by the local people as a common edible fish.
However, due to overfishing and water pollution, the number of wild fine-scaled fish has sharply declined. Nowadays, it has been listed as a second-class protected animal in China, and its wild population is nearly extinct.
In recent years, breakthroughs have been made in the artificial breeding technology of fine-scaled fish, and commercial breeding has been successfully achieved. Due to its fine texture, absence of intermuscular bones and high nutritional value, the fine-scale fish has quickly become a favorite in the high-end catering market. The breeding price can reach 120 to 160 yuan per jin, and some premium fish can even be sold for 300 yuan per jin!
Why is the fine-scaled fish so expensive?
The fine-scaled fish has been a tribute to the imperial court since the Song Dynasty. Its meat is tender and smooth, without any fishy smell, and melts in the mouth. Many foodies believe that its taste far surpasses that of salmon and rainbow trout, making it a top-quality sashimi ingredient.
Research has found that the fine-scaled fish is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and high-quality protein. It can prevent blood clots and accelerate wound healing, and is particularly beneficial for patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Its nutritional value is extremely high, and thus it is called "gold in water".
In addition, the breeding of fine-scaled fish is extremely difficult, with very strict requirements for water quality, water temperature and dissolved oxygen.
The suitable water temperature for growth is 13-16℃, and the maximum water temperature should not exceed 20℃. The dissolved oxygen should be greater than 6mg/L; otherwise, it is prone to death. The fine-scaled fish is also sensitive to environmental changes and is prone to diseases and parasites.
These strict conditions make the breeding cost extremely high and the survival rate low, further pushing up the market price.
At present, the main farming method for fine-scaled fish is flow-water farming, which uses low-temperature mountain spring water or deep well water to simulate a wild environment and imitate ecological flow-water farming. However, this farming method has a low stocking density and a long growth cycle, making it difficult to increase production.
So the question arises: Is it feasible to raise fine-scaled fish in factory-scale recirculating water?
In terms of technology, factory-scale recirculating water aquaculture has a mature aquaculture system that can precisely control key parameters such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH value. This technology has been successfully applied to high-value-added species such as salmon and trout, and grouper, and is highly consistent with the breeding demands of fine-scaled fish.
In terms of breeding density, the RAS system can significantly increase the breeding density, achieve year-round production through graded breeding, and improve breeding efficiency.
In terms of disease management, closed farming reduces the invasion of external pathogens and can significantly lower the probability of disease occurrence.
The factory-based aquaculture model, with its unique advantages, provides new ideas and solutions for the farming of fine-scaled fish.
It is believed that with the continuous advancement of technology and the expansion of the market, this breeding method will become the mainstream model for fine-scaled fish farming, bringing more substantial profits and broader market prospects to farmers.