Strong prices for premium fish species may be resulting in higher levels of theft at aquaculture firms in southern China.
Farmers of Mandarin fish in Guangdong Province are installing security cameras and conducting all-night watches to prevent theft of their fish.
Rising consumption power has created demand for higher-value species in China and has spurred a shift away from lower-priced species like carp to crayfish and Mandarin.
Newspapers in Foshan city noted farmers of Mandarin fish – now a popular choice among mid- and high-level diners – are getting CNY 26 (USD 3.94, EUR 3.30) per 500 grams at the farm gate for their fish, compared to CNY 4 (USD 0.61, EUR 0.51) per 500 grams being paid for mud carp, a staple of lower-cost dining.
