Taiwan Food Atlas

Donggang Sakura Shrimp

Found commercially only in Japan and Taiwan — a pink treasure from the sea
📍 Pingtung · Donggang · District Fishermen's Association🏆 Specialty · Seafood🌸 Rare catch from restricted waters

Donggang sakura shrimp is a bioluminescent deep-sea shrimp only 4–5 cm long, found in commercial quantities only in Japan's Shizuoka and Taiwan (Donggang and Toucheng, Yilan) — one of the 'Three Treasures of Donggang.' Fishermen catch them at night from November through May, then immediately freeze or sun-dry the catch to preserve their bright red color and sweetness.

According to CNA and the Ministry of Agriculture's Food and Agriculture Education platform, commercial-scale sakura shrimp fisheries exist only off Japan's Shizuoka coast and in Taiwan (Donggang, Pingtung and Toucheng, Yilan). Donggang currently licenses 115 fishing boats for the catch, each limited to 12 crates per trip at a maximum of 15 kg per crate; the season runs from November through May, governed by a sustainable-fishing agreement set by the Donggang Fishermen's Association and its production cooperative.

What is Donggang Sakura Shrimp

Sakura shrimp (Sergia lucens) are bioluminescent deep-sea shrimp only 4–5 cm long; they rise to feed at night and sink back into the deep by day. Fishermen catch them with specially designed trawl nets at night, then immediately freeze or sun-dry the catch to preserve the bright red color and sweetness. Taiwan's production is concentrated in the waters off Donggang and Fangliao in Pingtung, with the main fishing season running from November through May. The shrimp come in three forms — fresh, frozen, and dried — with dried being the most shelf-stable and widely used in cooking.

Why Donggang? The Donggang Township Office explicitly notes that commercial-scale sakura shrimp fisheries exist only in Japan's Suruga Bay and the waters off Donggang and Fangliao, Taiwan. Since the 1980s, the Donggang District Fishermen's Association has organized fishermen into cooperative production and marketing groups and implemented voluntary closed seasons and catch limits — one of the rare examples in Taiwan of fishermen self-organizing for conservation of a scarce seafood product. The association's direct-sales outlet and shops near Huaqiao Market are the main channels for purchasing dried shrimp; many local restaurants also feature sakura shrimp fried rice and sakura shrimp sticky rice cake as signature dishes.

How to eat it like a local

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Fried rice and sticky rice cakeThe most classic Donggang preparations: sakura shrimp fried rice brings oily fragrance; mixed into sticky rice cake and spread on top, the natural sweetness carries the whole dish. A small portion packs plenty of aroma.
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Stir-fried cabbageThe everyday home version: sauté sakura shrimp first until fragrant, then add cabbage. The shrimp aroma infuses the leaves — light, savory, and great with rice, and easy to make at home.
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Pick dried shrimp by colorGood dried sakura shrimp are bright pink, whole-bodied, and free of debris. Don't buy any that look dark red or overly vivid — signs of fading quality or artificial coloring.
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Freeze to storeStore at home in the freezer; ambient humidity causes them to go dark and stale. Use a small pinch at a time — the aroma is intense and a little goes a long way.

Local knowledge

Verified endorsements (sponsored content filtered out)

  • The Donggang Township Office states that commercial sakura shrimp fisheries exist only in Japan's Suruga Bay and the waters off Donggang and Fangliao, Taiwan.
  • The Donggang District Fishermen's Association promotes cooperative production groups with voluntary closed seasons and catch limits — a rare example of fishermen-led conservation in Taiwan.
  • November through May is the main fishing season; the association's direct-sales outlet is the primary channel for first-hand dried shrimp.

Visitor tips

  • During the closed season (roughly June–October), shrimp on the market are mostly from stored inventory; look for products bearing the fishermen's association label for better assurance.
  • Sakura shrimp that are suspiciously cheap are often dyed dried shrimp skin substitutes — be cautious if the color is too vivid and there are no heads or legs.
  • Restaurant portions of sakura shrimp fried rice are small but aromatic; sharing one between two people is more practical than each ordering one.

Information compiled from the Pingtung County Government Tourism Bureau, Donggang Township Office, Donggang District Fishermen's Association, and large volumes of public reviews; sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos will be replaced with exclusive channel footage after Dio's on-site shoot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Donggang sakura shrimp so prized?

Commercial-scale sakura shrimp fisheries exist only off Japan's Shizuoka coast and in Taiwan (Donggang and Toucheng, Yilan); Donggang currently licenses only 115 boats, with strict limits on both fleet size and catch volume.

How can you tell real dried sakura shrimp from fakes?

Genuine dried sakura shrimp are bright pink, whole-bodied, and free of debris; anything dark red or overly vivid in color is often a dyed shrimp-skin substitute, so be wary of suspiciously cheap prices.

When is Donggang sakura shrimp season?

The main fishing season runs from November through May; during the closed season, market supply is mostly stored inventory, so products bearing the fishermen's association label offer better assurance.

Sources

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