Taishan City in Jiangmen, a renowned hometown of overseas Chinese, is also China's largest base for eel farming, production and export. In 2025, six out of every 10 live eels exported from China came from Taishan. The city has ranked first in live eel exports nationwide for six consecutive years.

Since 2022, China has become the world's largest producer and exporter of farmed eels, with Guangdong serving as the core region. Taishan has 51,000 mu (about 3,400 hectares) of eel farming areas, which, industry insiders estimate, account for more than one quarter of the national total. From January to November 2025, Jiangmen Customs supervised exports of live eels from Taishan valued at 1.197 billion yuan, with export volume reaching 7,670 tonnes, accounting for more than 60% of the national market share.

Taishan enjoys natural advantages for eel farming. Eels are a delicate aquaculture species, extremely sensitive to water quality, temperature, and humidity. Taishan enjoys a mild climate and abundant sunlight, ideal for eel growth. More importantly, Taishan is dotted with mountain ponds and reservoirs, with abundant freshwater resources and no industrial pollution, providing a natural environment for eels to thrive.

Today, Taishan's eel industry goes beyond live eel farming, extending to feed production and processed products such as grilled eel, broiled eel (Unagi no Kabayaki), and instant eel rice bowls. In 2025, the city's annual live eel output reached 52,000 tonnes, generating a value of 7.216 billion yuan.

The success of Taishan eels in reaching overseas markets stems not only from the scale of the industry but also from its rigorous standards.

Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are known for their stringent import standards for agricultural products, with the world's largest eel consumption markets. According to the head of Guangdong Yuanhong Aquatic Products Group, the company conducts three separate tests at different stages on the same batch of eels for drug residues and heavy metals, covering all 78 inspection items required in Japanese sampling. Microbial testing is carried out every two hours with high-frequency monitoring. Advanced testing equipment and rigorous procedures have allowed the company's products to achieve "zero returns" in the Japanese market for ten consecutive years.

In 2023, Taishan Gongrong Food Co., Ltd. ("Gongrong Food") gained market access for Taishan eels in the ROK. Today, through cold-chain logistics, Taishan eels can reach supermarkets in Tokyo, Japan, and restaurants in Seoul, ROK, within 48 hours from the ponds.

Bu Hongjin, head of Xulong Group Taishan Lvsheng Food Co., Ltd., stated: "Eels farmed in Taishan are rich in protein, various vitamins, amino acids and multiple trace elements, giving them high nutritional value. They also have a smooth and delicate texture, making them a mainstream variety sold in the international high-end market."

Currently, Taishan eels have successfully reached markets in Japan, ROK, Singapore and beyond, demonstrating strong competitiveness.

江门台山鳗鱼从侨乡“游”向世界

江门台山，著名侨乡，也是中国最大的鳗鱼养殖生产与出口基地。去年，我国每出口10条活鳗，就有6条来自台山。台山活鳗出口量连续六年居全国首位。

2022年起，中国成为全球最大鳗鱼养殖和出口国，广东是核心地区，而台山拥有5.1万亩鳗鱼养殖面积，据业内人士估计，台山鳗鱼养殖面积已占全国总面积1/4以上；2025年1至11月，江门海关监管出口台山活鳗鱼货值11.97亿元，出口量7670吨，占全国市场份额60%以上。

台山养鳗鱼有“先天”优势。鳗鱼是娇气的水产品种，对水质、温度和湿度的要求极为严苛。台山气候温和，光热丰富，适合鳗鱼生长。更关键的是，台山山塘水库密布，淡水水源充足，无工业污染，为鳗鱼提供了天然的生长环境。

如今的台山鳗鱼产业，不仅养殖活鳗，还能生产饲料，制作烤鳗、蒲烧鳗鱼、鳗鱼方便米饭等产品。2025年，台山活鳗年产量5.2万吨，产值72.16亿元。

台山鳗鱼之所以能“游”向海外，除了产业规模外，还得益于过硬的标准。

日韩两国以农产品进口标准严格著称，而这两个国家恰好拥有全球最大的鳗鱼消费市场。广东远宏水产集团有限公司负责人介绍，该公司针对同批鳗鱼的药残和重金属，会分不同阶段进行3次检测，检测内容覆盖日本所有抽检的78项指标；微生物检测则采取每两小时一次的高频监控。先进的检测设备和严格的检测流程，让该公司产品在日本市场实现连续10年“零退货”。

2023年，台山市共荣食品有限公司获得台山鳗鱼进军韩国市场的“入场券”。如今，台山鳗鱼通过冷链物流，48小时内就能从鱼塘抵达日本东京的超市、韩国首尔的餐厅。

作为台山市绿盛食品有限公司负责人，卜洪金表示：“台山养殖的鳗鱼含有蛋白质、多种维生素、氨基酸等营养物质，以及多种微量元素，营养价值非常高，且口感滑嫩细腻，是国际高端市场上销售的主流品种。”

目前，台山鳗鱼已经“游”向日本、韩国、新加坡等地，具有很强的竞争力。

文 | 陈卓栋 陈健怡 台宣
翻译 | 魏薇
审校 | 盛嘉