Taiwan: Mullet roe production at the mercy of warmer winter temperature

Tis’ the season for a Taiwanese delicacy. Mullet roe is a favorite during the winter months, especially during the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday. However, a warmer winter may hamper yearly production. A torrent of caught fish falls out the back of a truck like a waterfall. These are mullets and, no, we don’t mean the hairdo. Mullets are being harvested this time of year, not for their meat, but for their eggs. That’s because cured mullet roe is a favorite among Taiwanese during this time of year. However, mullet roe producers are biting their nails. That’s because Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau has forecasted that the temperature in the coming weeks could break 30 degrees Celsius. Warmer temperatures spell trouble for the mullet roe industry. As one mullet roe expert tells us, higher temperatures disrupt the curing process. If warm conditions persist for too long, ...