【永續海洋特展】浪花精靈-飛魚展版英文版 English version: Flying Fish

1. How Many Species Are There of Flying Fish?

Why are they called flying fish?

They look like flying flathead grey mullet (known as Mugil cephalus) when they are gliding over water. The length is typically 15 to 35 centimeters depending on the species, and is defined as big, small, and minor flathead grey mullet. Flying fish is a general term for many species. There are currently 64 species in the world, 29 species in Taiwan seawater area, and 6 of them are commonly seen.

Big flathead grey mullet:

Cheilopogon cyanopterus (margined flyingfish)

Cheilopogon unicolor (limpid-wing flyingfish)

Cheilopogon atrisignis (glider flyingfish, mainly in Lanyu)

Small flathead grey mullet:

Cypselurus poecilopterus (yellow-wing flying fish)

Parexocoetus brachypterus (sailfin flyingfish)

Hirundichthys oxycephalus (bony flyingfish)

 Hirundichthys oxycephalus (The roe industry protagonist)

 Cypselurus poecilopterus (Commonly seen in Taiwan seawater area)

 Cheilopogon cyanopterus (Larger species)

2. How Do Flying Fish Fly?

Unlike birds or insects flapping their wings, the flying fish's lower lobe caudal fin is longer than upper lobe caudal fin. This can generate enough speed to break through the water, via aerodynamic and large wing-like pectoral fins (or even with larger pelvic fins in some species), gliding over the sea. When it is nearly at the end of a glide, flying fish beat the caudal fin again to increase the water surface angle for another glide.

Picture: Beating the caudal fin is the force for the flying fish to leap out of the water.

Like gliders, flying fish can glide in the air up for 30 seconds, 140 meters distances.

Why do flying fish fly?

Life is full of challenges. To avoid predators in the sea, such as Mahi-Mahi, tuna, cetacean, etc., or when a boat passes by, the flying fish break through the water and glide. Just when you think it's safe in the air, there are still seabirds, such as Fregatidae and Sulidae, waiting to catch them.

Picture: The flying fish try to survive from predators, either in the water or in the air.

Jumping and flying group

Halfbeaks - A close relative of the flying fish, also have a longer lower lobe caudal fin. Without wing-like pectoral fins, the Halfbeaks can only continuing beating their caudal fins to leap out of the water.

Flying Gurnard - Bottom-dwelling fish. The large pectoral fins also come in handy for “flying” along the ocean floor.

Manta Ray - Look at the way Manta Ray swims, with the large triangular pectoral fins, truly like “flying” in the sea. The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray can even jump out of the water. This may be related to the courtship, or to get rid of the attached live sharksuckers.

Picture: Halfbeaks are commonly seen in east of Taiwan sea area.

Picture: Manta Ray not only can "fly" in the sea but also jump out of the water.

3. Where Do Flying Fish Live?

Flying fish like to stay in the epipelagic zone (the sunlight zone) and feed mainly on plankton and other small fishes. It is also targeted by predators such as mahi-mahi, marlin, thunnus, and even cetaceans, so it is an important fish in marine ecosystems. Every year, follow the Kuroshio Current, flying fish come from the warm water area of the equator and Philippines, arrive at Taiwan seawater area from February to March, lay eggs around June to August, and then are rarely seen after September. Based on habitat characteristics, it can be divided into categories. “Temporary habitat species” live along the continental shelf where it is less than 200 meters deep, during some period of its life cycle, such as growth or spawning time, for example Cheilopogon cyanopterus, Cypselurus poecilopterus, and Cheilopogon unicolor. Other, “Lifelong habitat species” live along the outer shelf and rarely stay in the continental shelf, for example Cheilopogon atrisignis and Hirundichthys oxycephalus.

4. Flying Fish Culture - Amis and Yami

In Taiwan, flying fish is an important food source for people who live along the east coast and on islands that include the aboriginal people, and inspires a variety of culture traditions. For a long time, the Amis tribe (located in east coast of Taiwan) and the Yami tribe (known as Tao; located in Orchid Island/Lanyu) coexisted with flying fish and developed individual food cultures.

KakaHog in the Amis tribe, east coast of Taiwan

Based on the phototaxis behavior, Amis people use torches to attract and catch KakaHog (flying fish in Amis language). The whole tribe co-operates together to assist in the cutting, gutting, pickling, and slow smoking of flying fish. In addition, images of flying fish feature in their artworks such as decoration and wood carvings.

AliBangbang in the Yami tribe, Orchid Island (known as Lanyu)

Yami, also known as Tao, are famous for incorporating flying fish in their culture. Compared with other ocean species, Yami adore AliBangbang (flying fish in Yami language) most of all. They catch flying fish using boats, called tatala, made in the traditional way. They rely on the guidance of their spirits as a way to honor their spiritual beliefs. Flying fish season in Orchid Island continues for eight months – fish summoning ceremony (from February to March), fish storing ceremony (June; stop catching), and fishing cessation ceremony (around mid autumn; stop eating).

5. Marine Conservation of The Tao Flying Fish Season in Lanyu

The Lanyu flying fish mythology is that the flying fish god told the Tao elders how to summon, catch, and eat flying fish, and explained various taboos, which constitutes the society norms of the Tao. After the “Fish summoning ceremony”, the Tao people are able to fish in the day and the night. Men and women are in charged with different duties. "Women cook meals and men seek food". They work together for life.

Conservation wisdom and norms

l Fish summoning ceremony - During this period, it is only allowed to catch migrating fish such as flying fish, mahi-mahi, etc. It is not allowed to catch coral reef fish so that the fishing grounds can get a rest and keep ecological sustainability.

l Fish storing ceremony - It is held during June to July, indicating that the fishing season is over. There will be no more catch, so pregnant flying fish are left undisturbed to get ready to give birth.

l Fishing cessation ceremony - It is held around the Mid-Autumn Festival, after which the consumption of dried flying fish is stopped. This is to control the catch of flying fish from February to September every year (enough to eat) and ensure food safety.

l To reduce using limited energy on the island, grilling is not allowed. The Tao dry flying fish in the sun, and eat it with taro and other staple foods.

What the Flying Fish God wants to convey is how properly to use limited marine resources, to help each other, to respect, and to thank the ocean. The balance between the Tao and nature is a role model of sustainability.

6. Flying Fish Industry - Eating Habits

Flying fish arrive Taiwan in Spring every year. With a large number and easy to catch, it is an important catch. There are several ways used in different regions as follow.

(1) Flying fish roe

In the early summer, flying fish gather in the northeastern Yilan waters and lay eggs on floating objects. Based on this characteristic, the fishermen make sea grass bales to collect flying fish roe, mainly exported to Japan, and produce small amounts of processed foods such as nigiri, dumplings, and sausages.

(2) Dried flying fish

Dried flying fish is commonly seen in east and south of Taiwan (Hualien, Taitung, Lanyu, Green Island, and Pingtung). Larger species are commonly used, such as Cheilopogon cyanopterus (margined flyingfish), Cheilopogon unicolor (limpid-wing flyingfish), and Cheilopogon atrisignis (glider flyingfish, mainly in Lanyu). Fish are sun dried or smoked. Dishes include fried flying fish and fried rice with flying fish.

(3) Deep fried flying fish

It is commonly seen in Hengchun and Lambai Island (Pingtung; south of Taiwan). There are many tiny fish bones but, after being deep fried, the crispy taste and the delicate meat flavor still make it popular. The species used include big flathead grey mullet and Cypselurus poecilopterus (yellow-wing flying fish). Small flathead grey mullet are commonly used for fishing bait.

7. Sustainable Future

The flying fish in the marine ecosystem

Flying fish are the prey for other medium-sized fish, birds, and cetaceans. Even fish fry and roe provide a lot to marine organisms. They have an indispensable role in the food chain, and are a cornerstone of marine ecology.

Should we eat flying fish?

Flying fish are a short-lived and numerous migratory fish. It is a moderate use of marine resources if we catch a small amount of it. In recent years, because of tourist consumption and processed products, destructive fishing practices have devastated the marine environment, which not only reduce the value of flying fish but also cannot be sustainable.

Should we eat flying fish roe?

The flying fish roe is known as “gold” in the sea. Nowadays, the way to collect a large number of flying fish roe is by laying straw mats, which can capture hundreds of metric tons in one year. How much does this affect the amount of flying fish? Does it require stricter control measures?

How to use it properly and respectfully, and meanwhile maintain the balance between supply and demand, is the most important issue for sustainable coexistence with the ocean.