Grain worms bring fame and fortune to Lianzhou

The Hometown of Baijiao Sea Bass -- Doumen District, Zhuhai -- became also the Hometown of Grain Worms when the China Aquatic Products Processing & Marketing Alliance awarded the national honor to Lianzhou Town on June 1.

A plaque was presented to town authorities at the Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center in Fuzhou.

During the great tides of the third, fourth, eighth, and tenth lunar months, a large quantity of grain worms, also known as standing grain worms, break through the soil from the roots of water paddies and float upon the surface of the Hutiaomen Waterway. There, farmers catch them with well-woven bamboo traps during the wee hours. As grain worms depend on high-quality water, rivers fit for catching them are disappearing.

An expert panel had earlier explored worm breeding bases in Doumen’s Fenzhou and Nanmen towns. The panel then determined Lianzhou's worm industry worthy of the honor after evaluating its scale, economic and social return, planning, and development prospects.

River-rich Lianzhou has tidal land that provides an ideal natural environment for the worms. Relying on scientific research institutions and universities, the area established a comprehensive system that integrates production, academics, and research.

The town hosts a 650,000-sq-m (161-acre) breeding base, with large tracts awaiting development. With 1,600 employees, annual worm output is about 20 tons, generating revenue of 7.2 million yuan ($1.1 million). Lianzhou Grain Worm was previously selected as a city-level intangible cultural heritage item.

Doumen's Baijiao Sea Bass was certified as a National Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) product in 2009.