A large wild yellow croaker that measures 60 centimeters long and 16 centimeters wide is auctioned at 29,800 yuan. (Photo/jinbaonet.com)
(ECNS) -- Nine large wild yellow croakers, considered the crown jewel amongst dishes served to distinguished guests, was sold for a whopping 83,800 yuan ($12,900), with the largest going for 29,800 yuan, during an auction in the island city Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang Province.
More than 50 bidders from across the country competed fiercely for the nine wild fish, which weighed from 1,000 grams to 2,050 grams.
Zhoushan native Xia Liangkang, who has been in the seafood trade for over 20 years, spent 63,600 yuan on five fish, including 29,800 yuan for the largest that measured 60 centimeters long and 16 centimeters wide.
Xia said it's very rare to catch a wild croaker weighing 2,000 grams nowadays. He said the fish were well worth the price.
The number of large yellow croakers, once an abundant commercial fish, has dropped sharply due to overfishing. It is used in many local dishes and known for being tender and delicious.
Luo Haizhong, chief engineer at the Zhoushan Bureau of Ocean and Fisheries, said it has been the bureau's top priority to protect the large wild yellow croaker by releasing more fry into the water and preventing illegal fishing.
The province bans fishing for yellow croaker smaller than 255 millimeters or weighing less than 250 grams.
