Double harvest

Local media have hailed the approach as a win-win solution, which realizes the "double harvest" for the ecology and economy.

The group refers to the practice as "green ecological fish farming", meaning no feed or fertilizers are used throughout the fish life cycle.

"The biggest feature of this approach is people release fish and allow them to grow naturally," said Yan Weian, another official working at Guanyinge Reservoir.

Official figures show that 52 percent of the country's freshwater aquaculture areas are lakes and reservoirs, which produce about one-fifth of China's freshwater catch.

These fish, especially those from reservoirs, are commonly referred to as "ecological fish" due to their health benefits.

China is the world's fourth largest organic food producer by growing area, and sales of such food reached 87.7 billion yuan in 2022, according to a report by the State Administration of Market Regulation.

The group said many of its fish products had been certified organic and have proved to be a hit in markets including Beijing, Tianjin and Guangzhou of Guangdong province. The organic status is reviewed every year.

Fish raised in reservoirs, according to the group, are richer in protein and have a lower fat content due to the province's lengthy winter. When caught in spring, the fat stores of the fish have almost depleted, meaning the flesh is firm and chewy.

Carp, the group's signature product, are nutritious containing potassium, sodium and calcium, it said.