In Vietnam, fishermen in the Ca Mau region, especially on offshore islands such as Hon Han and Hon Chuoi, have a side job that brings in a very good income: fishing for a unique specialty fish in this area - Gray pickerel fish.
Gray gourami - A special fish species commonly distributed in Ca Mau, Phu Yen and Da Nang. (Photo: Flickr)
A unique fish because of its uses
According to the book "Common fish species in Vietnam" published by the Ministry of Fisheries in 2007, the gray melon fish, also known as the lac fish, silver lac fish, or lac u fish (binomial name: Muraenesox cinereous), is a marine fish belonging to the family Muraenesocidae, distributed in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. In Vietnam, in addition to Ca Mau, lac fish is also distributed in the southern seas such as Phu Yen and Da Nang.
The gray melon fish looks quite similar to an eel, with a long beak, round body, long tubular body, the front of the body is almost round in cross-section, the back of the body is flattened to one side. This is a smooth-bodied fish, without scales. The distance between the two nostrils is quite wide. The snout is short, conical in shape and slightly protruding. The eyes are large, the diameter of the eyes can be 2 to 2.5 times the length of the snout.
The mouth is wide, the upper jaw extending beyond the eyes. The outermost row of canines of the lower jaw is long, pointing straight up. The canines are located on the palatine bone. The gill openings are wide and located below the pectoral fins. The dorsal and pelvic fins are joined together to form the caudal fin. The pectoral fins are well developed. The whole body is grey, the belly is silvery white or pale grey on the back, the belly has a golden sheen.
The gray melon fish looks quite similar to an eel, with a long beak, round body, and long tubular body.
Gray fish is divided into 2 types, yellow gray fish has a yellow body, gray fish has a gray body.
This fish lives in many different environments: from estuaries to coastal areas and some species live in water depths of more than 300m. The gray melon fish lives buried in the mud and only comes out to feed at night. They use their sharp teeth to attack prey including smaller fish and sea creatures.
According to "Nam Duoc Than Hieu" (Tue Tinh), gray pickled fish is called man le ngu, sweet in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It is used to eliminate toxins, treat rheumatism, back pain, tired legs, and disinfect tuberculosis. According to nutritionists, gray pickled fish is very nutritious, containing lots of fat, calcium, iron, and Vitamin A.
According to the Journal of Oleo Sciences, although grayling is a bottom-dwelling fish, the mercury content in the fish is relatively low: below 0.29 ppm, so it is considered safe, even for pregnant women.
In Japan, grayling is a valuable food source and is used in many special dishes. (Photo: Flickr)
In Japan, Hamo or salted ...
According to Binh Dinh Newspaper, large gray fish, the kind as big as an adult's calf, as long as an arm span, are often cut into pieces to sell. The fish is split along the river bone, because the fish has many cross bones, so when split like that, when the fish is cooked, the bones are easily removed, then washed, seasoned and cooked in sour soup with herbs, Vietnamese coriander, star fruit...
Braised grey pickled fish is best when the fish is cooked and smells fragrant, the fish sauce is thick and sticky like honey, and the fish pieces are firm.
Little-known specialty fish worth millions
Not only does the gray fish have delicious meat, but in the belly of this fish there is something that is considered rare and valuable, which is the fish bladder. The fish bladder is a part located inside the fish's intestines that looks like a swollen bladder. Usually, many people when eating fish will throw away this part because they think it is inedible. However, few people know that fish bladder contains many nutrients that are beneficial to the human body.
The swim bladder of the grey melon fish is the most valuable part of this fish. (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Fish maw, also known as fish bladder, fish maw, fish maw, fish bean, is the air sac of fish species. Fish maw is low in calories but contains a lot of high-quality protein. In addition, it also contains a lot of collagen, calcium, vitamins, minerals... which are very good for human health.
In ancient times, fish bladder was one of the rare "eight treasures" that was only offered to the emperor for use.
According to Oriental medicine, the bladder of the gray melon is sweet, neutral in nature; enters the kidneys. It has the effect of nourishing the kidneys and benefiting essence, nourishing the muscles and veins, stopping bleeding, dispersing stasis and eliminating perforation. Used for cases of spermatorrhea, spermatorrhea, hemoptysis, hemoptysis, tetanus, convulsions, metrorrhagia, and hemorrhoids.
For women, grey fish maw is a useful remedy in slowing down the aging process of the skin because it contains collagen. For children, it is a source of calcium to help develop bones and brains. In addition, it also contains some trace elements that help fight stress and fatigue. Therefore, the price of grey fish maw on the market is much more expensive than other items.
Fish bladder is being sold for 9 million VND/kg. (Photo: Sohu)
Up to now, although the price of gray fish bladder is quite high, the production is limited so the supply is always not enough to meet the demand. However, from here, it can be seen that the localities where this fish species is distributed can rely on the production of dried fish bladder to increase income for themselves and their families.
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