The scale of eel farming in Guangdong accounts for more than half of the country. With Japan's "Eel Festival" approaching in July, Guangdong's eel exports are also ushering in the peak season of the year. Now is the time for live eels to come out of the pond, how is the market this year?
Zheng Youlin has been engaged in eel farming for more than 20 years and is the director of an eel farm in Taishan, Guangdong. When reporters met him, he was leading a dozen workers to fish for eels from the earthen pond. After sorting and weighing, the workers transported the live eels, weighing about six or seven tons, from Shanghai airport to Japan on water wheels.
Zheng Youlin, director of an eel farm in Taishan City, Guangdong Province: The workers came over at four o'clock in the morning, and today they will produce six or seven tons of live eels, and a net profit of more than 20,000 yuan per ton.
Shi Fabiao, a trader who came to buy eels, told reporters that April and May to August are the busiest time of the year for eel farmers and traders.
In Japan, eel is used as a seasonal food to cool off in the middle of summer, and the traditional "Eel Festival" is held every July, and it is in high demand. Shi Fabiao goes to Foshan, Taishan and Zhuhai in Guangdong every day to collect fish, and sometimes even grabs fish from other traders.
Shi Fabiao, person in charge of a fishery enterprise in Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province: I collected a total of about 10 tons of live eels, transported them to Shanghai by water truck, and then flew them to Japan. There are two or three traders who come together to see the fish, and they all want this fish, and the price will rise a little.
Zhou Shaorong, an eel farmer in Taishan City, Guangdong Province: June, July and August, these three months are the peak season. It takes about ten tons of fish a week, and each ton is at least five or six thousand yuan higher than usual.
It is understood that the varieties of eels farmed in Guangdong are all Japanese eels favored by the Japanese market. This year, the export of live eels to Japan is in short supply, so many farmers have made money.
Zhou Zhaoen, president of Guangdong Eel Industry Association: We expect to export 7,000 tons of live eel to Japan a year.
Source: CCTV Finance