Seafood · FFET10387
Zhangzidao sea cucumber
Sea cucumber from the waters around Zhangzidao in Changhai County, Liaoning, named for the island.
Sea fish, shellfish, sea cucumber, seaweed and the dried foods of the sea.
Zhangzidao sea cucumber comes from the waters around Zhangzidao in Changhai County, Dalian, Liaoning, and takes its name from the island. It is a Chinese geographical indication product, but CNIPA Announcement No. 561 does not list Zhangzidao sea cucumber and cannot confirm approval to use the special mark under that name.
What
Zhangzidao sea cucumber comes from the waters around Zhangzidao and takes its name from the island. It is Apostichopus japonicus, the main sea cucumber of temperate waters in the western Pacific.1,3
When
Available material gives no historical starting date or harvest season for Zhangzidao sea cucumber. CNIPA Announcement No. 561, published in 2023, does not list it and cannot establish its origin or approval date.1,2,3
Where
Zhangzidao lies in the Changshan Islands in the Yellow Sea, about 56 nautical miles northeast of Dalian, and belongs to Changhai County, Dalian, Liaoning.1
How
General preparation includes rehydrating dried sea cucumber, and Shandong cuisine includes scallion-braised sea cucumber. Available material neither describes farming or harvesting methods for Zhangzidao sea cucumber nor establishes these kitchen practices as unique to Zhangzidao.1,3
Why
The name connects the sea cucumber to its Zhangzidao origin. The surrounding waters are rich in aquatic resources, and the sea cucumber, local abalone, and scallops are geographical indication products. Available material gives no further account of a flavor or texture unique to Zhangzidao sea cucumber.1,3
Impact and influence
CNIPA Announcement No. 561 of 2023 lists approvals to use the geographical indication special mark for Zhangzidao abalone, Zhangzidao scallops, and Dalian sea cucumber, but omits Zhangzidao sea cucumber. These product names should be treated separately; available material also gives no usable production figures for Zhangzidao sea cucumber.1,2,3