Definition Match: 'Curing' specifically means preservation via moisture removal PLUS salt — the term itself points to the answer.
Common salt draws out moisture (osmosis) and inhibits bacterial growth, making it the standard preservative in traditional fish curing.
Citric acid and sodium benzoate are food preservatives used in OTHER contexts (like packaged foods), and formaldehyde, while sometimes misused illegally, is not the standard/approved curing preservative.