Why are hairtail fish always dead when caught?

Hairtail fish is rich in nutrients, with delicious meat. It is rich in fat, protein, vitamin A, unsaturated fatty acids, phosphorus, calcium, iron, iodine and many other nutrients. It has the effects of strengthening the heart and tonifying the kidneys, relaxing muscles and invigorating blood circulation, reducing inflammation and resolving phlegm, clearing the mind and stopping diarrhea, eliminating fatigue, and boosting vitality and spirit. However, many people find that hairtail fish are always dead when sold. Let us take a look below at why hairtail fish are always dead!

Why are hairtail fish always dead?

Hairtail fish is a deep-sea fish species and bears enormous water pressure underwater. Its body also has outward pressure to counter the water pressure, so the hairtail fish is not crushed flat. When the hairtail fish is hauled to the surface, because atmospheric pressure is much lower than water pressure, a situation arises in which the external pressure on the hairtail fish is low while the internal pressure is high. At this point, the internal pressure of the hairtail fish rapidly expands outward and eventually bursts its internal organs, so the hairtail fish dies. This is why hairtail fish are always dead.

Where do hairtail fish come from?

The origins of hairtail fish are fairly widespread, mainly distributed in the western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. They can be seen in all coastal provinces of China and can be divided into two major categories, northern and southern. Northern hairtail fish are larger than southern hairtail fish. They overwinter in the southern Yellow Sea, swim toward the Bohai Sea in spring, forming the spring fishing season, and return in groups to their overwintering grounds in autumn, forming the autumn fishing season. Southern hairtail fish move north-south each year along the western edge of the East China Sea according to the seasons, making a northward reproductive migration in spring and a southward overwintering migration in winter.

How should hairtail fish be selected?

1. Body surface: High-quality hairtail fish has a glossy body surface, complete scales all over the body, scales that do not fall off easily, intact fins, and no broken belly or severed head. Poor-quality hairtail fish has a less glossy body surface, scales that fall off easily, a fragrant-gray body, and signs of broken belly or severed head.

2. Fish eyes: High-quality hairtail fish has full eyeballs and transparent corneas, while poor-quality hairtail fish has slightly sunken eyeballs and slightly cloudy corneas.

3. Muscle: High-quality hairtail fish has very thick, elastic muscle, while poor-quality hairtail fish has very soft, non-elastic muscle.

4. Odor: High-quality hairtail fish does not give off a fishy or foul smell, while poor-quality hairtail fish has a very strong fishy or foul odor.

5. Fish belly: High-quality hairtail fish has a fish belly that is not damaged or softened, while poor-quality hairtail fish has a damaged or softened fish belly.

What are the benefits of eating hairtail fish?

1. Enhancing memory: Hairtail fish contains DHA, and DHA is one of the nutrients needed by the brain. It is very important for improving memory and thinking ability. In addition, hairtail fish is rich in lecithin, which can improve the function of the nervous system and has a very good brain-boosting effect.

2. Nourishing skin and hair: The silvery scales on the surface of hairtail fish are high-quality fat with relatively high nutritional value and no fishy smell. The unsaturated fatty acids and lecithin contained in them can enhance the vitality of skin surface cells, making the skin delicate and the hair black and shiny.

3. Tonifying the spleen and boosting qi: Hairtail fish can tonify the spleen and boost qi. It can be used for malnutrition, dry and yellow hair, poor appetite, nausea, fatigue and other conditions. Eating hairtail fish steamed or pan-fried can improve the above symptoms caused by spleen deficiency and weak qi.

4. Nourishing blood and tonifying deficiency: Hairtail fish is rich in protein, fat, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, iron, iodine and other components. It can nourish blood and tonify deficiency and can be used for weakness after illness, bleeding from trauma, insufficient milk after childbirth and other conditions.

5. Nourishing the liver and warming the stomach: Hairtail fish has the effect of nourishing the liver. Steaming hairtail fish can improve the symptoms of hepatitis, and hairtail fish also has the effects of harmonizing the stomach and promoting appetite, warming the stomach and tonifying deficiency.

6. Preventing and fighting cancer: The 6-thioguanine contained in the silvery fat layer on the skin of hairtail fish is a natural anti-cancer component and is beneficial as an auxiliary treatment for leukemia, gastric cancer, lymphatic tumors and other conditions.

7. Lowering blood lipids: The fat content of hairtail fish is higher than that of ordinary fish, and most of it is unsaturated fatty acids. The carbon chains of these unsaturated fatty acids are relatively long and have the effect of lowering cholesterol, and can reduce blood lipids.

8. Preventing disease: Hairtail fish is rich in magnesium, which has a very good protective effect on the cardiovascular system and is beneficial for preventing high blood pressure, myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases.