Introduction

Ribbon fish, as one of the most common aquatic products in daily life, has long been favored by consumers. With economic growth and rising consumer demand, imported ribbon fish is increasingly reaching the dining tables of ordinary people. Do you know some key facts about imported ribbon fish? Let’s take a look below.

Ribbon Fish Overview

Ribbon fish (also known as knife fish or silver hairtail) belongs to the Trichiuridae family within the order Perciformes. In parts of China’s Yellow Sea coast (e.g., Qingdao, Rizhao), it is locally called "dāo yú" (鱽鱼). Characterized by a laterally flat, ribbon-like body and silvery-gray coloration, it features pale gray dorsal and pectoral fins, a pointed head with a large mouth, and tapers gradually toward the tail.

Distribution of Ribbon Fish

Ribbon fish inhabit warm waters across all major oceans, concentrated primarily in four zones:Zone 1: Harvested mainly by China, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan.Zone 2: Primary harvesting nations in Southeast Asia (e.g., Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia).Zone 3: Key harvesters: India, Pakistan, Oman.Zone 4: Dominated by West African nations like Morocco, Senegal, Ghana.Additionally, other regions yield smaller catches, such as waters near Ecuador and France.

Fishing Methods for Ribbon Fish

Ribbon fish are caught via hook fishing or net fishing:Hook fishing: Fish are caught individually. Labor-intensive but ensures premium quality; commands higher prices.Net fishing: Highly efficient with large catch volumes, but quality is inconsistent.

Varieties of Ribbon Fish

The ribbon fish belongs to the Trichiuridae family (order Perciformes), comprising 9 genera: Aphanopus (Frostfish) Assurger (Razor scabbardfish) Benthodesmus (Deep-sea frostfish) Demissolinea (Moon-tail hairtail) Eupleurogrammus (Smallhead hairtail) Evoxymetopon (Narrow-skull hairtail) Lepidopus (Silver scabbardfish) Lepturacanthus (Savalai hairtail) Trichiurus (Largehead hairtail) These genera encompass 44 species. Below are common commercial varieties.

White Ribbon Fish

Latin name: Trichiurus lepturus Commonly known as ribbon fish in China. Key morphological traits: Elongated, laterally compressed band-like body Slightly elongated tail tapering posteriorly into a slender, whip-like tip (caudal peduncle ≈40% of pre-anal length) Narrow, elongated head: Skull profile sloping or slightly convex Pointed snout with prominent Frontal bones separated

Short Ribbon Fish

Latin name: Trichiurus brevis Also known as Chinese short-tailed ribbon fish. Key characteristics: Carnivorous Slender, laterally compressed body White dorsal fin Maximum body length: 54.5 cm Primary distribution: Waters surrounding Hainan Province, China

Sand Ribbon Fish

Latin name: Lepturacanthus savala A fish of the genus Lepturacanthus within the Trichiuridae family. Distribution: Northern Indian Ocean coasts East to Australia North to Ryukyu Islands South China Sea waters Habitat: Coastal warm-water pelagic fish.

Atlantic Scabbard Fish

Latin name: Lepidopus caudatus Distribution: Tropical to temperate waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans Habitat depth: 42–620 meters Characteristics: Silver-bodied with forked tail Maximum length: 210 cm Carnivorous diet: Fish, squid, crustaceans

Pacific Deep-sea Ribbon Fish

Latin name: Benthodesmus pacificus Distribution: Primarily in the North Pacific region, including: Ryukyu Trench Bering Sea Waters off British Columbia (Canada) West coast of the United States Habitat depth: 100–1000 meters

Standardized Declaration for Imported Ribbon Fish

Due to minimal morphological differences among species, importers frequently declare frozen ribbon fish incorrectly during customs clearance, causing delays and increased operational costs. Below are common declaration errors:

1.Incorrect Product Name Declaration.Example: Sand ribbon fish (Lepturacanthus savala) vs. White ribbon fish (Trichiurus lepturus). Despite visual similarity, they belong to different genera. Errors often occur when the Latin name is correct but the product name is mismatched.

2.Incorrect Tax Code Declaration.The tariff code "0303.8910" (explicitly designated for "带鱼" in China’s Customs Import and Export Tariff) only applies to the genus Trichiurus (e.g., Trichiurus lepturus or Trichiurus auriga).Critical note: All other ribbon fish genera (e.g., Lepturacanthus, Benthodesmus) cannot use this tax code.

Labeling Requirements for Imported Ribbon Fish

Per Articles 28 and 30 of "Administrative Measures for Import and Export Food Safety of the People's Republic of China" (GACC Decree No. 249):

Must align with Chinese laws/regulations and national food safety standards. Instructions in Chinese are mandatory if required by law. Seafood-Specific Labeling: Inner/outer packaging requires clear, indelible bilingual text (Chinese + English or Chinese + exporting country’s language), stating:

Commercial and scientific names Specifications Production date, batch number Shelf life, storage conditions Registration number (issued by Chinese authorities or exporting country) Production method (marine capture, freshwater capture, aquaculture) Production region: Ocean: fishing area Freshwater: country/region Aquaculture: country/region All involved entities (fishing/processing/transport vessels, cold storage): Name Registration number Address (state/province/city) Destination: People’s Republic of China

Article source:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/K6AG29ZabjFdN5vy1Pea_Q

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