China's "living fossil" doll fish: from boom to crisis
The Chinese giant salamander, often referred to as the baby fish, is one of the largest amphibians in the world and is known worldwide for its rarity and mystery. Known as a "living fossil", the animal is listed as China's second-class key protected wildlife, however, in recent years, the fate of the baby fish has experienced huge setbacks, its price has fallen from sky-high prices, and the aquaculture industry has also suffered a heavy blow. This article will delve into the story of the doll fish, revealing the reasons behind it and possible futures.
The ecology and background of the doll fish
Baby fish, also known as giant salamanders, are inhabited by China's deep mountain streams, and they thrive in the Yangtze, Yellow and Pearl River basins, where the water is clear, the water is turbulent, and there are ideal living conditions such as caves. Known as a "living fossil" due to its large size, the doll fish has triggered people's imagination of the age of dinosaurs.
The Crisis of the Doll Fish
However, the story of the doll fish is not perfect. Overfishing and river pollution pose serious threats to their survival. In the eighties and nineties, these "living fossils" were overfished, and then environmental pollution further exacerbated the problem, resulting in a sharp decline in the number of baby fish. Therefore, the Chinese government has listed it as a national second-class protected animal in an effort to save this unique species.
The rise of farming technology
Over time, China has made great progress in artificial breeding technology. The maturity of this technology has made it possible to breed baby fish in captivity, thus meeting the market demand. At one time, baby fish was considered a luxury item, with a high price, selling for more than 1,000 yuan a pound. This scene attracted a large influx of capital into the aquaculture market, which was seen as a way to get rich quick.
The reason for the decline in the price of doll fish
However, since 2013, the price of baby fish has continued to fall, and the wholesale price has dropped to 25 yuan a catty, or even lower. This raises questions about whether the "living fossil" identity of the doll fish will eventually disappear. This may be related to changes in market supply and demand and increased competition. With a large number of farmers reducing production, withdrawing or transitioning, the market competition is fierce and prices naturally fall.
Outlook for the future
The future of the doll fish is uncertain. Despite the promise offered by captive breeding techniques, environmental concerns still threaten baby fish in their natural habitat. The Chinese government's conservation initiatives are a positive sign, but protection needs to be sustained over the long term. At the same time, falling market prices are also posing a huge challenge for farmers to find new ways to transform themselves to ensure their sustainable development.
In general, the story of the doll fish is a story about the protection of natural resources and ecological balance, but also the changing balance between the market economy and environmental protection. The fate of the doll fish will continue to be influenced by human behavior and environmental factors, and we hope to see this unique species flourish in the future.
The Rise and Silence of the Doll Fish Farming Industry: The Story of Guanghan, Sichuan
In Guanghan, Sichuan, the experience of a farmer shows the rise and fall of the baby fish farming industry. Xie Ciyong, a hard-working farmer, once led local farmers to set up a baby fish farming cooperative, which once earned millions a year. However, market volatility and regulatory restrictions have made the industry go through ups and downs.
Doll fish farming was a remarkable business at the best of the market. Doll fish was once sold at a price of up to more than 1,000 yuan a catty, attracting many investors. Xie Ciyong recalls that the market was dynamic and prices were unbelievably high. Doll fish has become a "hard currency", and the price of fry has also risen, and the price of 100-yuan bills has even become a way of trading.
However, this wave of prosperity gradually receded in 2013. The price of baby fish began to fall, and although there was still some profit margin, the market gradually shrank and the production of farmers decreased. Originally, more than 100,000 baby fish could be sold a year, but now only about 30,000 remain. Xie Ciyong admits that the baby fish farming in front of him is no longer the lucrative one he once was, and he even handed over the breeding to the workers, who could only pay wages.
The setback in the baby fish farming industry is also related to regulations. As a national second-class key protected wild animal, baby fish must obtain a legal license before it can be farmed. This regulation requires farmers to spend time and effort to meet the requirements of various laws and regulations.
Faced with the downturn in the market and regulatory restrictions, Xie Ciyong decided to transform. He turned his attention to bullfrog farming, which produces 7.8 million catties of bullfrog every year, which brings him a considerable income. Bullfrog farming is relatively easy to breed, not only in high demand, but also with low requirements for environmental water quality, bullfrog farming is more attractive.
Xie Ciyong's experience reflects the constant change of the agricultural and livestock industry and the need to adapt to market demand. Although baby fish farming was once a booming industry, market volatility and regulatory constraints eventually forced farmers to rethink their operations. In this farmer's story, we see the spirit of innovation and adaptation, which may also be the key to sustainable rural economic development.
The transformation of baby fish farming enterprises: from market leadership to new opportunities for deep processing
At the foot of Longmen Mountain in Deyang, Sichuan Province, China, this is the base of Sichuan Xinxiyuan Biotechnology Company, an aquaculture business founded and led by 60-year-old Gao Anyou. Gao has been involved in aquaculture since 1984, but the real turning point came in 2009, when he decided to start farming baby fish.
At that time, doll fish attracted attention because of its rarity and high price. Gao Anyou revealed in an interview that as early as 2008, their company tried to raise two baby fish, and after success, they officially obtained the license of baby fish in 2009 and began to fully participate in the artificial breeding of baby fish. At that time, the price of baby fish fry was high, and he did not hesitate to spend a lot of money to buy 1996 fry from Hanzhong and Hunan in Shaanxi. This batch of fish fry became the basis for the company's large-scale farming, and at the same time, it also led to the prosperity of the surrounding villagers, providing considerable income for the farmers every year.
However, the golden age of the doll fish market did not last long. In 2013, the price of baby fish began to fall, and the company's original plan to open four chain stores in Sichuan was shelved. The market is unpredictable, and some investors have had to abandon baby fish farming. But Gao Anyou insisted that he began to think about transformation as early as when the market was booming, and cooperated with domestic scientific research institutes to carry out the intensive processing of baby fish.
After 10 years of research and efforts, they finally conquered the key technology of whole fish extraction of baby fish, and formed a whole industrial chain of deep processing of baby fish. At present, the company has successfully launched 4 products such as oral liquid, protein powder and morning food, with an annual output value of 8 million yuan and obtained 7 patents.
The reason why baby fish is attracting attention is because it contains a variety of natural active substances, which have high nutritional and medicinal value, help improve immune function and enhance the body's ability to resist disease. A team of experts is also studying it intensively, believing that this market has great prospects.
However, compared with the glory of baby fish farming, most of the retail farmers have already withdrawn from this market, while some large-scale farmers have had to reduce production or transform to adapt to market changes.
Gao's company is also constantly exploring new opportunities, and they have set up a 10,000-mu rice-fish co-culture project in Nanquan Township, shifting the focus of farming to this field.
This story tells us that the market is always changing, and entrepreneurs need to be flexible and look for new opportunities. Gao Anyou's experience shows how enterprises can re-emerge in the market competition through technological innovation and deep processing transformation. It's also an inspiring example of how persistence and innovation can lead a business to success in the face of challenges.