【永續海洋特展】東岸飛虎(英文版) - DOLPHIN FISH (Mahimahi)

DOLPHIN FISH  (Mahimahi)

1. Color

I am a blade wandering in the sea,

I am a glittering blade with mixture of blue, green, and yellow colors,

Do not be afraid of my iron-like coldness. Do not be afraid! I am the most beautiful blade in the sea—Dolphinfish.

[Shape and color of the blade]

Dolphinfish, it’s Chinese name means it looks like a big blade. It’s tail looks like the hilt of the blade while its head looks like the body of the blade. It has various colors including blue, green, yellow with touches of metallic color of iron gray, gray, and silver. It's like a cold weapon. When it is still a baby, a dolphinfish does not look like a blade. It has big eyes and colorful stripes with lovely baby face.

2. Life

Clear and warm Kuroshio Current is my home, while residents in Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung are my neighbors, as they often see me.

My everyday life is full of excitement, escaping from sharp swordfish, groups of whales or dolphins, and fleets of fishing boats.

Oh, my friend!

Do not be afraid unless you are a flying fish.

You are afraid, so you are a flying fish, aren't you?

[Role in the food chain in marine ecosystem]

Dolphinfish plays an important role in the marine food chain. They mainly eat shirmps, mollusk, bait fish, and surface oceanic fish. They are eaten by tunas, swordfish, and whales and dolphins.

3. Helplessness

Are the floating plastic bags disguised squids?

Are exfoliated silica gel beads delicious breakfast?

Light debris of aluminum foil, slender straw, and cigarette. I can swallow them all!

Till then, I realize they are not disguised!

Till then, I know they are all rubbish!

Do not be afraid unless you litter them.

[Helplessness and sorrow of marine environment]   Modern daily necessities

Technology not only bring convenience to our life but also cause seriously negative effects to marine environment. Lots of modern disposable tableware (canned drinks, straws, or plastic bags , etc) are used. If they are not properly handled, they’ll drift to the sea, and easily eaten by marine life, such as turtles, whales and dolphins, tuna, and small fish. They may eat straws, plastic bags, and even plastic particles of cleaning supplies. The rubbish cannot be quickly broken down, so they will be taken by fish first and the toxic will transfer through the food chain to human. Finally, it can cause numerous health issues. 

4. Love

Dear, I met you in the sea,

But I do not know if you are a boy or a girl,

I do not even know if I am a boy or a girl,

Do not be afraid. We will know a year later.

[Growth and identification of male and female dolphinfish]

In the eastern sea area of Taiwan, dolphinfish is breeding all year round, while February and March are the peak months. Dolphinfish can lay numerous eggs, so the larval fish will become the food of many marine creatures. The gender of a dolphinfish is various and  decided by environmental factors in different regions. It will be mature within a year. The shape of males heads will become square, while the shape of females heads will become.

5. Pride

Sing. Tao men from Lanyu

With your strong arms

With your robust  bodies

As long as you can catch me, you are proud and worthy of praise of your tribe.

Hang me high. Do not be afraid. This is my blessing to the warriors.

[Dolphinfish in Tao culture]

In Tao culture of Lanyu, it is said that "a man can eat a dolphinfish, while a woman cannot.", indicating that a dolphinfish is a symbol of a brave man. The tribe worships dolphinfish as deity. When Tao men hunt, they will sing on the boat and use a live flying fish as the bait to fish a dolphinfish, which is the traditional fishing method. It requires fishing skills and ability. Before the dolphinfish is processed, people will use sea water to wash it in order to bless its soul and worship the daily harvest. Then, it is hung to be dried under the sun and pay respect to the life.


6. Industry
Fishermen fishing on the Pacific Ocean glad to meet us
If our family, dolphinfish is abundant, you also get rich harvest.  
From the three meals of fisherman's family to a Michelin Restaurants, you always found us in a variety of good culture.
Do not be afraid of me, a blade in the sea, as Dolphinfish will making a living of you  and being the representative of the fishery in the east coast of Taiwan. 

[An important marine product in the east] 

Dolphinfish is one of the major fishery harvesting in Chenggong Fishery Harbor. About 90% of the dolphinfish harvesting is sold to North America and EU. For the past few years, the price of dolphinfish was rising because the fishmen has joined the certificate of Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP). A few dolphinfishes are supplied to  domestic market and seafood stores to make fish balls, while most of them are frozen and explored as quality fillet and fish steak.

7. Delicacy

Do not be afraid, my friends,

When you see me again, I'm no longer the silver blade,

When you see me again, I am the delicacy on the table,

I can be al dente fish ball, thin sashimi, crispy fish steak, or hot fish soup.

Do not be afraid, my friends!

I am dolphinfish in the east coast.

[Delicacy and sustainability]

Dolphinfish has tender meat, few bones, and clear layers, which is a common dish in Suao and Hualien. It is often made into fish balls named "FlyingTiger Fish Ball" because of its common term also called flying-tiger, which eats flying fish. In other countries, dolphinfish is cooked in various ways; for examples, it becomes Sashimi in Japan,and is grilled to s fish steak in Europe and America area. When you purchase or eat the dolphinfish dishes, you may pay attention to its origin and the fishing way. Because the quantity of dolphinfish affects the balance of marine ecological upper and lower system.