The Japanese government has listed crayfish as "conditional specific alien creatures", banned the sale and release of crayfish, and violators face up to three years in prison or a huge fine of 3 million yen (about 150,000 yuan). This sudden move immediately sparked a heated debate in China, and people questioned: Why is crayfish such a popular delicacy in China, but it has become a "sinner" in Japan.
Crayfish are listed as "conditionally specified aliens": the Japanese government bans the sale of dragons
First, we need to understand why crayfish are listed as "conditionally specific aliens." The invasion of alien species can cause serious damage to a country's ecological environment and biodiversity.
As an island nation, Japan's ecosystem is relatively closed and faces the threat of biological invasion from the outside world. As an alien species, crayfish multiply rapidly in some waters of Japan and have some impact on the local ecosystem. In order to protect the local ecological environment, the Japanese government has taken this initiative.
However, for Chinese, crayfish has a delicious meat and unique taste, making it an important dish on the Chinese table. Whether in big cities or small towns and villages, crayfish are a frequent guest at summer dinners and feasts. Therefore, when the Japanese government listed crayfish as "sinners" and restricted their sale and release, the Chinese people naturally felt angry and puzzled.
Crayfish: China's beloved culinary treasure
In China, crayfish as a delicacy enjoys a high reputation and popularity in China. With its unique taste, rich nutritional value and characteristics combined with the shared culture on the table, this precious aquatic creature has become a shining pearl on the Chinese table. So, why are crayfish so popular in China? The reasons are as follows.
First of all, crayfish have a unique taste and deliciousness. Its tender and juicy meat with a hint of sweetness and a combination of spicy seasonings is evocative. It is not only suitable for stir-frying, roasting, boiling, roasting and other cooking methods, but also can be combined with other ingredients to create a variety of flavors. The unique flavor of crayfish has become one of people's favorite dishes.
Secondly, crayfish is an important part of Chinese food culture. In China, dining is not only a way to meet physiological needs, but also a way to socialize and reunite.
As a delicacy suitable for sharing with family and friends, crayfish often becomes the protagonist of summer dinners and feasts. People sit together, enjoy food, exchange feelings and enjoy happy times together. Crayfish has become a symbol on the Chinese table, representing people's love of life and pursuit of food.
In addition, crayfish are cooked in a variety of ways, which fully satisfies people's taste needs. Whether it's spicy, spicy, steamed or any other flavoring method, crayfish can satisfy different people's preferences.
People can choose the cooking method and seasoning according to their taste preferences to create their own special cuisine. This diversity also adds to the appeal of crayfish, making it an adaptable gastronomic delicacy.
Finally, the high nutritional value of crayfish is also one of the reasons why people love it. Crayfish is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, which have certain benefits for human health. It is believed to have the effects of tonifying the kidneys and aphrodisiac, nourishing the body, and promoting metabolism. It is believed that eating crayfish not only allows you to enjoy delicious taste, but also nourishes the body, strengthens physical strength and resistance.
Japan misses out on the crayfish industry: from pets to invasive co-pest aquatic species
Crayfish has a great reputation in China and has become one of the delicacies on people's tables. However, in Japan, crayfish are only bred as an exotic aquatic pet species, and have not formed a huge pillar industry and a huge consumer group.
This huge difference has raised questions and questions about why Japanese consumers do not have the habit of eating crayfish. The following is a sharp analysis of this issue.
First of all, the Japanese regard crayfish as pets rather than delicacy, which is one of the important reasons for the difference in consumption habits. The Japanese breed crayfish mainly for pet keeping purposes, so it is not widely used as an ingredient.
In contrast, Chinese regard crayfish as a delicacy and have formed a long-standing tradition and culture for their eating habits. This difference in eating habits has led to different perceptions and attitudes towards crayfish among consumers in the two countries.
Secondly, the surplus amount generated by crayfish farming in Japan cannot be sold, resulting in serious damage to the water environment caused by the release behavior. Due to the fast reproduction rate of crayfish, farmers often face a large number of surplus shrimp fry, and the Japanese consumer market has relatively low demand for crayfish to absorb these surplus production.
Crayfish are crushed as fertilizer
In order to dispose of these excess crayfish, farmers have to release them into natural waters by releasing them, resulting in damage to the local water environment. This behavior makes crayfish an invasive and comorbid aquatic species, posing a serious threat to Japan's ecological environment.
With the increasing prominence of the problem, the Japanese government began to pay attention to and take measures. In May 2022, Japan's Diet began to amend the Alien Organisms Law and prohibit the farming, sale and release of crayfish from June 1, 2023.
Violators face up to 3 years in prison or a fine of 3 million yen. This legislative measure is intended to protect Japan's ecological environment and aquatic biodiversity and prevent further invasion and destruction.
Although the total amount of crayfish farming in Japan is relatively small, only enough to meet the consumption of Chinese consumers for one to two days, for a small country without eating habits, the crayfish farming industry of this scale faces great challenges. Japan missed the opportunity to develop crayfish into a pillar industry and create a huge consumer market.