中国日报推出《Crayfish get a claw in technology》，聚焦潜江“四季有虾”

Crayfish get a claw in technology

科技助力“四季有虾”破冬上市

Qianjiang, one of China's largest production areas, increases innovation to bring the spicy delicacy to diners year-round

湖北潜江 ，中国小龙虾主产区之一，正以技术创新赋能产业，让这道麻辣鲜香的美味全年端上餐桌。

Locals and tourists gather in Qianjiang, Central China's Hubei province, to sample the delicious crayfish dishes. 

当地民众与游客齐聚中国湖北潜江，品尝美味的小龙虾菜肴。

Deliciously spicy crayfish is a popular Chinese delicacy, especially as a late-night snack served at their peak succulence in the warmer months.

In Qianjiang city, Central China's Hubei province, one of China's largest crayfish production areas, it is possible to sample fresh crayfish year-round.

鲜香麻辣的小龙虾是国民人气美食，尤其在气候温暖的季节，正值肉质最为饱满之时，更是夜宵餐桌上的常客。

作为中国小龙虾主产区之一，湖北潜江如今已实现全年供应鲜活小龙虾。

"Thanks to new farming technologies, we're able to regulate the quantity, quality and harvesting of crayfish in winter and ensure their healthy growth and stable production all year," says Li Mingbo, deputy director of the Hubei Crayfish Industry Technology Research Institute.

Based in Qianjiang, the institute has systematically focused on new technologies since the end of 2022. Li and his team have broken through technical bottlenecks through trial and error.

He explains that the traditional peak harvest season for crayfish is from April to June, with scarce supply in autumn and winter. This results in market oversupply, volatile prices and short earning periods for farmers.

湖北省小龙虾产业技术研究院副院长李明波表示：“依托新型养殖技术，我们实现了冬季小龙虾产量、品质与捕捞的精细化管控，保障其全年健康生长、稳定上市。”

位于潜江的湖北省小龙虾产业技术研究院，自2022年底起系统开展技术攻关。李明波与团队历经反复试验，成功突破多项技术瓶颈。

他介绍，传统小龙虾集中上市期为4月至6月，秋冬季节供应紧缺。这不仅造成旺季市场供过于求、价格波动剧烈，也让养殖户的增收周期短。

"The key is to address the issues of poor quality and low yields in winter, when the crayfish have the habit of becoming dormant at low temperatures," says Li.

Crayfish are traditionally raised in ponds or paddy fields. In extreme heat or cold, they burrow into mud to protect themselves and stop growing and gaining weight. Females also use these burrows for reproduction and nurturing their young.

According to Li, the new breeding model requires farmers to first upgrade their ponds or paddy fields. The area can be divided into a breeding zone and a grow-out zone by building ridges and installing barrier nets to prevent crayfish from burrowing and to control their stocking density.

"Maintaining an appropriate stocking density is crucial," Li says.

“核心难题在于，低温环境下小龙虾会进入冬眠状态，导致冬季养殖品质差、产量低。”李明波说。

传统养殖模式下，小龙虾多在池塘或稻田生长，遇极端冷热天气便会钻泥蛰伏，停止生长增重；雌虾也会在泥洞中繁育幼虾。

据李明波介绍，新型养殖模式首先需对塘口、稻田进行改造升级。通过筑埂、设置隔离网，将养殖区划分为繁育区与养殖区，防止小龙虾打洞，同时精准控制养殖密度。

“保持合理密度至关重要。” 他说。

He explains that excessively low density results in wasted feed and reduced yields. If the density is too high, crayfish will damage aquatic vegetation, degrade the pond environment, and suffer from stunted growth, ultimately producing small crayfish with poor meat quality.

"By selecting high-quality brood-stock crayfish and adopting scientific measures, we can achieve a self-sufficient supply of crayfish larvae," he says.

Li and his team are promoting technologies to help farmers supply their own crayfish larvae and raise crayfish year-round.

According to him, self-produced larvae are safer and more stable, can reduce farming costs, and can help control crayfish breeding.

他说，密度过低会造成饲料浪费、产量下降；密度过高则会导致水草遭破坏、塘口环境恶化，小龙虾生长受限，最终个头偏小、肉质欠佳。

“通过选育优质小龙虾亲本，配合科学管护，可实现虾苗自给自足。” 他表示。

李明波与团队正大力推广相关技术，助力养殖户实现虾苗自供、全年养殖。

自主繁育的虾苗更安全稳定，既能降低养殖成本，也便于规范繁育管理。

In addition, Li says it is essential to provide nutritious feed for crayfish in winter to ensure they can molt and grow properly and maintain plump, firm flesh.

He explains that this is an eco-friendly farming model. Rice straw in paddy fields is turned into high-quality natural crayfish feed. In ponds, they plant suitable aquatic plants and regulate water quality to improve breeding and environmental conditions.

他表示这种养殖模式十分环保。冬季需为小龙虾投喂营养充足的专用饲料，保障其顺利蜕壳生长，保持肉质紧实饱满。

稻田秸秆可转化为天然优质饵料，塘内种植适配水草、调控水质，优化养殖环境。

Diners enjoy various crayfish dishes in Qianjiang in summer. 

夏季，食客们在潜江品尝各式各样的小龙虾菜肴。

In 2025, Qianjiang established 120 demonstration sites for crayfish farming in paddy fields that yield year-round harvests, covering a total area of about 333.33 hectares, setting an example and encouraging more farmers to join in. The city's crayfish output from November to February is expected to exceed 26,000 metric tons.

Besides policy support, the city government regularly organizes training for local crayfish farmers and provides subsidies to boost their enthusiasm.

"The price of crayfish in winter is at least double or triple that in summer. I've earned more money," says Li Fujian, 59, a crayfish farmer in Qianjiang.

2025年，潜江建设“四季有虾”稻田模式示范点120个、总面积达5000亩，示范带动更多农户参与，预计全市冬虾产量超2.6万吨。

除政策扶持外，当地政府定期开展养殖户技术培训，并发放补贴，激发养殖户积极性。

“冬季小龙虾价格是夏季的两至三倍，我收入也更高了。”59岁的潜江小龙虾养殖户李福建说。

"This winter, crayfish breeding technology is more mature, the farming area has been further expanded, and the crayfish output has increased," says Guo Song, office director of the trading center.

中国虾谷小龙虾交易中心数据显示，2025年春节期间小龙虾销量超过3300吨，预计今年同期销量同比增长10%。

该中心办公室主任郭颂表示：“今年冬季养殖技术更成熟，养殖面积进一步扩大，小龙虾产量也随之提升。”

Dong Xinghua, manager of the flagship branch of Shrimp King, a crayfish restaurant chain headquartered in Qianjiang, says that live crayfish in winter have been available in the restaurant since December 2024. This winter, the supply is abundant. "About 70 percent of our sold dishes are made from larger-sized live crayfish, while the remaining 30 percent are flash-frozen crayfish."

"This year, we received the highest number of Chinese New Year's Eve dinner reservations, with over 160 tables. Many customers chose us because they could enjoy fresh, live crayfish," she says.

According to Dong, customers during the Spring Festival holiday included out-of-town visitors from all over the country, as well as local residents and people from nearby areas who returned home for the holiday.

潜江虾皇生态龙虾城旗舰店店长董兴华介绍，自2024年12月起，店内便供应冬季鲜活小龙虾，今冬货源充足。“菜品中约七成使用大个鲜活小龙虾，其余三成采用速冻小龙虾。”

“今年年夜饭预订量创历史新高，超过160桌。不少顾客专程前来，就为吃上鲜活小龙虾。” 她说。

据董兴华介绍，春节期间到店食客既有全国各地的游客，也有本地市民及返乡过节的周边群众。