The Izmir Businessmen Association President, Mehmet Sahin Çakan, shared the significance of sea eggplant (cuan zhua) in Chinese cuisine and its contribution to the Turkish economy, generating around 30 million dollars. This product, sourced from the deep waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean, is highly valued by the Chinese for its believed immune-boosting properties and anti-aging effects. The fishing for sea eggplant is regulated with an annual quota of 2,000 tons, ensuring the sustainability of the supply. The regions for fishing are rotated each year to allow for recovery, with Didim being the designated region for 2021.