Hey fam, ever thought deserts and snow-fed rivers could be the next big thing in fish farming? 🎣❄️ In the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, aquaculture is making waves—literally turning arid land into “blue granaries” that are feeding millions across the country.
In H1 2025, Xinjiang produced 74,800 tons of fish, up 6.49% from last year. Salmon stole the show with over 5,000 tons, and the Ili River Valley alone contributed 80% of that haul. Talk about a salmon takeover! 🐟✨
It’s not just salmon flexing its scales. Rainbow trout, golden trout, pike, shrimp and crayfish are all part of the roster. In Tekes county, snowmelt streams keep cold-water fisheries thriving, while Shache and Jinghe counties have flipped salt-alkali land into booming shrimp and crayfish farms.
What’s the secret sauce? Xinjiang taps into 46 million mu of fishable waters—melted snow from the Tianshan Mountains rich in oxygen and perfect for sensitive cold-water species. 🏔️💧 It’s nature’s gift meeting human ingenuity.
Speaking of ingenuity, smart aquaculture systems are a game changer. Sensors monitor 12 water-quality parameters—oxygen, temperature and more—automatically adjusting feeding and aeration. This digital approach slashes labor costs by almost a third while boosting yields and quality.
Even the fish eggs got a tech boost. After relying on imports for decades, local breeding bases now crank out salmon fry and triploid rainbow trout through artificial propagation. The result? Full seed independence and a blueprint for inland aquaculture across the nation.
Eco-fans, rejoice! Xinjiang balances growth with green goals. Annual stocking programs reintroduce native species into the Ili River, and careful water management keeps cage farming low-impact. At Sayram Lake, crystal-clear waters down to 16 meters deep support fish farms and eco-tourism hand in hand. 🌿🐠
From snowmelt to smart tech, Xinjiang’s aquaculture journey is proof that sustainable innovation can flourish anywhere. For young changemakers in South and Southeast Asia, this is one story that’s worth a double-tap. 👍🌏
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Xinjiang's aquaculture: From snow-fed rivers to blue granaries
cgtn.com
