Yellow croaker makes a splash

But companies selling it farther from the coast are also trying to make the fish easier to choose, not just easier to cook.

For years, the quality of farmed large yellow croaker could be difficult for consumers to judge before buying. Fish of different quality could look similar on the market, while prices varied among producers and regions.

Ningde is now trying to put more structure behind those differences.

The city has introduced a five-level grading system for high-quality farmed large yellow croaker. The system covers indicators including appearance and quality, giving producers and buyers a common reference instead of leaving the value of a fish largely to visual judgment.

You Chengyin, deputy head of the Ningde ocean and fisheries bureau, says the change is part of a broader effort to improve the quality of the fish rather than simply expand production.

Since 2018, Ningde has been upgrading its marine farming facilities, replacing older wooden rafts and foam floats with more standardized equipment and moving some production toward larger cages and deeper, more open waters. Farmers have also adopted more digital tools for feeding and managing the fish, You says.

The city has also organized culinary events under the "One Fish, One Feast" campaign in Ningde and other cities, with chefs developing dishes around large yellow croaker.

You says the city is working with companies on technologies to improve processing and preserve freshness, including automated slicing and bone detection.

The efforts are taking the fish into markets well beyond Fujian. Ningde's large yellow croaker products now reach more than 60 countries and regions, with South Korea among the important overseas markets, according to local producers.

"We are shifting from winning through volume to winning through quality," You says.

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn