Catching Mudfish being taken to Diaoyu Islands

Hushan Village in Doumen District is focusing on aquaculture to protect and promote the Catching Mudfish folk custom.

The village is currently nurturing a product with local characteristics -- mudfish -- as part of the development project rolled out across Zhuhai. Moreover, some 2,000 hectares of sea around Chibi Island, one of the affiliated islands to Diaoyu Islands, will be turned into a seafood breeding base.

Situated in the west of Qianwu Town, Hushan covers 14.7 sq m in the core of Fushan Industrial Park. It is next to the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Railway, Gaolan Port Expressway, and Zhufeng Avenue, and close to Ocean Spring Resort in Pingsha Town of Jinwan District.

Taking advantage of technological resources at the industrial park, the project will repackage and develop the Catching Mudfish heritage. It is also expected to increase villager incomes as well as boost a tertiary industry with mixed commercial and residential property, leisure, catering, and entertainment, according to a local official.

Weaving fishing cages

Catching Mudfish has a history of 240 years, originated in the 30th year of the reign of Emperor Chien-lung (Qianlong) in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Not surprisingly, it involves cage weaving and fishing skills.

In the Qing Dynasty, seaside Hushan had little farmland but rich fishery resources. Villagers found that many little fish were left behind on the mudflats when tides ebbed after the first and 15th days of the lunar month, and that they were quite delicious.

Based on the fish's habit of hiding in mud holes, a practical fishing method with cages was developed, which was much more efficient than using bare hands. It has been widely practiced in Lishan, Mashan, and Wangshan villages and honed to a finely tuned technique.

The practice was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in 2010.

Hushan Village in Doumen District [Photos courtesy South Plus]