Farmers were greatly surprised at the abnormal over-winter golden pompano port price in last 10 days. Dropping trend started from Zhanjiang, Guangdong, went to Beihai, Guangxi and then expanded into Yangjiang, Guangdong. According to the market insiders, the golden pompano price steeply plummeted to only 13.2 yuan/jin (500g) for 1 jin size, and 14.3 yuan/jin for 1.3 jin size.
Because of the rare cold waves and low temperature weathers in January in Southern China, a large number of fish died of or hurt by cold. After the cold wave, the water temperature increased and diseases broke, which also caused part fish death. Also as a result of too low temperature of the water, the over-winter fish grew slowly. The period of continuous feed consumption but without fish growth expanded. All those factors leading to the rising cost of feed and farming, which was estimated at 14-15 yuan/jin.
Low fish price, nearly same as or below the cost price, was far beyond farmers’ anticipation. At present, farmers took a strong reluctant attitude towards selling. Recent market quantity decreased and the price increased a little. The frozen fresh fish price of the day before yesterday was 14.5 yuan/jin for 0.9-1 jin size in Zhanjiang, Guangdong. Yesterday’s live fish price was 14.8-15 yuan/jin for 0.7-0.9 jin size, however, 14.5 yuan/jin only for more than 0.9 jin size in Tieshangang, Beihang, Guangxi, same as that in Zhanjiang. It’s known that relatively small fish was popular to the market with higher price.
Affected by the price dropping in Zhanjiang and Beihai, the golden pompano price in Yangjiang finally shifted from stable situation to dropping trend. Present 1 jin size fish price was at 17-18 yuan/jin.
A fair number of farmers now rely on the holiday effect of Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese lunar calendar, June 9th this year, during which they plan to catch the fish to the market. But some industry insiders are pessimistic about that:
1、Present over-winter fish quantity is still at high level, about 2 million jin. It takes time for these fish to go to the market.
2、A large number of golden pompano fry were stocked during Spring, especially in the ponds in Guangxi and Guandong province. Because pompano pond farming is more susceptible to oxygen deficit, and to avoid market overlap with the net cage or fish raft-farmed golden pompano, pond-farmed golden pompano will come to market in advance. Actually, some pond-farmed pompano with 0.2-0.3 jin size are already sold on the market at present. The price is 14-15 yuan/jin, which even enjoys advantage over the net cage-farmed golden pompano. Therefore, pond-farmed golden pompano will bring big challenge to over-winter pompano.
Industry insiders remind that live fish and frozen fresh fish will continuously go to market during the left time of 2016. Excessive profits era of previous year’s golden pompano farming seems to end and it’s difficult to repeat. Farmers should hold a reasonable attitude towards pompano farming, keep an eye on golden pompano market, and avoid marketing of pompano at the gathered time and delaying of marketing of the fish.
