In the vast, arid landscapes of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, an unexpected aquatic revolution is taking root. Once an improbable candidate for large-scale fisheries, Xinjiang has become a national leader in cold-water aquaculture, blending cutting-edge technology with sustainable practices to transform its snow-fed rivers and reclaimed salt-alkali lands into thriving "blue granaries."
New data reveals a 6.49% year-on-year surge in aquatic output during the first half of 2025, reaching 74,800 tons. Salmon production alone exceeded 5,000 tons, with the Ili River Valley contributing over 80% of this yield. Projects like Gongliu County’s deep-water cage systems, which release millions of fry into glacial waters, highlight the region’s ambitious scaling of eco-friendly fish farming.
Beyond salmon, Xinjiang’s diverse aquaculture portfolio includes rainbow trout, golden trout, and even desert-edge shrimp farms. In Shache and Jinghe counties, advanced water management has converted saline wastelands into productive hubs for shrimp and crayfish cultivation. Meanwhile, Tekes County leverages snowmelt-fed rivers to sustain cold-water species, demonstrating the region’s adaptability to varied ecological conditions.
Central to this success is Xinjiang’s strategic use of its 46 million mu of fishable waters, primarily fed by oxygen-rich Tianshan Mountain snowmelt. Smart aquaculture systems now monitor 12 water quality parameters in real time, automating feeding and aeration while reducing labor costs by 30%. Breakthroughs in seed technology—including domestically developed salmon breeding and triploid rainbow trout propagation—have eliminated reliance on imported fry, securing China’s aquaculture supply chain.
Perhaps most notably, Xinjiang’s model prioritizes ecological balance. Annual restocking programs replenish native species in the Ili River, while cage farming techniques minimize pollution. At Sayram Lake, where water transparency reaches 16 meters, fisheries coexist with eco-tourism, embodying the region’s commitment to harmonizing economic growth with environmental stewardship.
