Where is cuttlefish produced? A list of the main production areas

Cuttlefish is a shellfish, also known as squid fish, inkfish, eyed fish, etc. It belongs to the phylum Mollusca, class Cephalopoda, order Decapodiformes (ten-armed), family Sepiidae. So where is the production area of cuttlefish?

Cuttlefish are distributed across the world's major oceans, mainly living in shallow coastal waters of tropical and temperate zones, and in winter they often migrate to deeper waters. What is referred to as “cuttlefish” or “squid” in China is mostly the two species Sepiella maindroni and Sepia esculenta, mainly produced in the East China Sea of China.

Cuttlefish production areas are very widespread, with output along the coasts of China, Korea, Japan and Europe, and the Zhoushan Islands in China producing the most. Cuttlefish meat, eggs and backbone (known in traditional Chinese medicine as haipiaoxiao) can all be used as medicine. Li Shizhen called cuttlefish a “blood-regulating medicine,” and it is an excellent treasure for women with anemia or blood deficiency and amenorrhea. In the vast East China Sea grows such a creature: it swims like a fish, but does not belong to the fishes. People habitually call it “cuttlefish,” and also call it “squid” or “wuyuze.” It is one of China's famous seafood products, and in Zhejiang it is collectively known with large yellow croaker, small yellow croaker and hairtail as the “four major economic fishes,” deeply loved by consumers.