Brown Croaker (Protonibea diacanthus): A Precious “Sea Gem” from Raoping, Guangdong
About Brown Croaker
In the blue waters off Raoping, Guangdong, swims a lively “sea treasure” – the brown croaker (Protonibea diacanthus). With a plump body, tender flesh, and a natural freshness, it is a true delicacy of the sea. Every part of the brown croaker is valuable: from its succulent meat to its swim bladder, which is processed into high-grade fish maw known as “Chi Zui Bei fish maw” – one of the five famous fish maws in China, earning it the title of “soft gold” for its extraordinary economic value.
Unlike the Miichthys miiuy (another croaker species), the brown croaker has a dark brown body, hence its local names “red-mouth croaker” or “black croaker.” Its swim bladder is renowned for both culinary and medicinal purposes, believed to nourish blood, stop bleeding, tonify the kidney, and moisten the lungs, making it a “black gold” level seafood treasure.
Raoping: China’s Hometown of Brown Croaker
Raoping County, Chaozhou City, located on the Tropic of Cancer, is the largest brown croaker breeding base in China, hailed as “China’s Hometown of Brown Croaker.” Boasting a 136-kilometer coastline and 533 square kilometers of sea area, its winding bays – especially Zhelin Bay (68 square kilometers) – offer ideal conditions for brown croaker growth: calm tides, stable water temperature, salinity, and a pristine ecological environment, making it a natural habitat for the fish.
Thanks to these natural endowments, Raoping’s brown croaker stands out with a shorter body, thicker flesh, and tender, sweet meat – commanding a market price 10% higher than similar seafood nationwide.
A Century-Old Industry: From Traditional Fishing to Modern Prosperity
Raoping’s relationship with brown croaker dates back over 600 years. As early as the early Ming Dynasty, local fishermen began raising wild brown croaker fry in Zhelin Bay. The industry took off after reform and opening-up, with technological breakthroughs in the 1980s laying the foundation for artificial breeding.
- 2003: Key challenges in parent fish cultivation, artificial reproduction, and feed development were solved, slashing fry costs and boosting large-scale farming.
- 2010s: The rise of deep-water cage farming expanded production, though unregulated growth led to issues like inconsistent quality. Raoping’s government responded by collaborating with research institutions to establish breeding standards and technical norms, ensuring orderly development.
- 2021: Raoping was officially named “China’s Hometown of Brown Croaker,” marking the formation of a full industry chain covering breeding, cultivation, processing, logistics, e-commerce, catering, and tourism.
Industrial Scale & Economic Impact
Today, Raoping dominates China’s brown croaker industry:
- Annual output exceeds 70,000 tons, accounting for 71% of the national total.
- The industry generates over 1.12 billion yuan in direct output value and over 10 billion yuan in indirect economic benefits.
- It creates hundreds of thousands of jobs, supporting fishermen’s livelihoods and driving rural revitalization under Guangdong’s “Hundred Counties, Thousand Towns, Ten Thousand Villages High-Quality Development Project.”
Innovation: Modern Marine Ranching & Technological Upgrade
Raoping is advancing modern marine ranching with a focus on upgrading aquaculture equipment:
- “Wooden-to-Plastic” Renovation: 21,000 old fish cages have been replaced with 13,000 new ones, improving efficiency and sustainability.
- Deep-Water Cages: Over 468 enhanced gravity-type deep-water cages (each 63 meters in circumference) have been deployed, extending farming depth from 4m to 10m for better water quality and higher-quality fish. A single cage can raise 2,000-3,000 brown croakers, yielding 20-22 tons every two years.
- Scientific Collaboration: Aquaculture manufacturer (e.g. Chenghuifeng Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd.) partner with institutions like Sun Yat-sen University to develop monosex fry and specialized feed for improving swim bladder quality.
Processing & Products: From Fresh Fish to Value-Added Delicacies
Zhuhai Chenghuifeng Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd. produce a diverse range of products:
- Primary products: Frozen fillets, fish blocks, and salted fish.
- High-value products: Chi Zui Bei fish maw, ready-to-eat dishes (e.g., golden soup fish maw, spicy brown croaker head, and steamed fillets with rice soup) tailored to Chaoshan cuisine’s “fresh and light” style.
- Standards: Enterprises have developed norms for fillet processing, low-salt preservation, and fish maw production, ensuring quality.
These products are popular domestically and exported to Hong Kong, Macao, South Korea, Eureopean Union,U.S. and Singapore. In 2024, Zhuhai Chenghuifeng Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (EU-approved plant code: 4404/02003) successfully exported brown croaker fillets to the EU, marking a milestone in international recognition.
CHF Seafood: Your Trusted Partner for Premium Brown Croaker
As a leading integrated aquaculture and processing enterprise, CHF Seafood (Zhuhai Chenghuifeng Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd.) is committed to delivering high-quality brown croaker and other seafood.
- Our Strengths: 100,000 m² processing facility, 50,000-ton annual production capacity, 4,000-ton intelligent cold storage, and an on-site laboratory ensuring food safety and traceability.
- Certifications: HACCP, ISO, BAP, and FDA, meeting international standards for safety and sustainability.
- Main Products: Brown croaker (Protonibea diacanthus), asian sea bass, barramundi, tilapia, red drum, toman fish, crispy fish, grass carp fish, channel catfish, white croaker and more.
Contact Us:
📍 Chengfeng Youpin Yubo Center, East Xingang Avenue, Xingang District, Baijiao Town, Doumen District, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519185 P.R. China
📍 Chengfeng Youpin Yubo Center, East Xingang Avenue, Xingang District, Baijiao Town, Doumen District, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519185 P.R. China
📞 Tel: +86 13434758707 WhatsApp/WeChat: +86 13727050518
📧 Email: chloe@chfseafood.com 🌐 www.chfseafood.com
