Table 2 Summary of the market research of typical fish maw products
Species | Photographs | Regions of origin | Characteristics and advantages | Medicinal effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Barramundi |
| Australia, China, India, and countries in Southeast Asia (mainly) | It is shaped like a capital Y; large-scale production; cheap; high nutritional value; good collagen quality | Regulates secretion and enhances immunity |
Nile perch (Lates niloticus) |
| Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and other countries in the Nile Valley freshwater regions | Large-scale production; cheap; high nutritional value; good collagen quality; thick meat | Maintains beauty and has antiaging properties |
New Zealand ling |
| New Zealand (mainly) and Europe | Contains a large amount of deep-sea minerals and collagen components. Large-scale production; moderate price | Moisturizes skin and removes wrinkles |
Suriname ling |
| Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname (mainly), Uruguay, Venezuela, and other countries | It has two "ears" on its head, a tail, and saturated flesh. large-scale production; moderate price | Regulates secretion and enhances immunity |
Totoaba macdonaldi |
| Mexico | The maw has two long whiskers that are nodular in shape; scarce; expensive; only for collection | Good hemostatic effect |
Bahaba |
| China | It has been listed as a national second-class protected animal and is currently endangered; scarce; expensive; only for collection | Good hemostatic effect |
Red billed (e.g., Double spined yellow croaker, Brown catfish, and Farmed catfish) |
| Indian Ocean (mainly), Nan'ao Island in China, Southeast Asia (mainly), and Western North Pacific | Scarce in the wild; expensive; the gelatin is delicate and has good viscosity; after stewing, the soup is clear | Aids in postoperative recovery and regulates secretion |
Otolithoides biauritus |
| India, Peru, South Australia Island of China, and Vietnam | Large-scale; moderate price | Cough relief, moistening of the airways in lung, tonifying kidneys, and strengthening body’s essence |
Perciformes totoaba |
| Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Southeastern waters of China, Thailand (mainly), and Vietnam | Medium quality, with a strong fishy odor; varying prices | Nourishes blood, promotes blood circulation, enhances immunity, and promotes wound healing |
Brotula clarkae |
| Pacific Ocean from the southern Gulf of California to Colombia | It is white and shaped like a "butterfly". The collagen content is relatively high | Nourishes the skin, removes wrinkles, and replenishes the blood to promote blood circulation |
Boesemania microlepis |
| Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam (mainly) | The shape of the unopened fish maw is like a hammer; it is accompanied by 2–6 short and small whiskers | Helpful for cough, asthma, and bronchitis |
Eleutheronema tetradactylum |
| Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand | Large-scale production and moderate price; the gelatin is slightly soft, and the soup is slightly viscous | Maintains beauty and has antiaging properties |
Conger-pike eel |
| Central and South America | It is a long, narrow, and cylindrical; large-scale production and moderate price | Maintains beauty and has antiaging properties |
