（原标题：CBN Friday Special丨From dry lands to fresh seafood: Xinjiang’s aquafarming goes swimmingly）
We’re now in November, the harvesting season. Talking of harvest in northwestern China’s Xinjiang, I’d imagine the first thing that comes in your mind are likely be grapes, melons, chestnuts, yoghurt or mutton.
But what if I told you this year, the most popular harvest in the landlocked region are fish?
In Xinjiang, you can choose from a smorgasbord of water dwellers raised locally – and unconventionally: From triploid rainbow trout, redclaw crayfish, leopard coral grouper to widely-liked white shrimp, crabs, and tilapia … you name it!
This autumn, Xinjiang's seafood production has gained exponential traction from the public in the backdrop of Japan's nuclear-contaminated water dumping, causing intense concern and worry regarding seafood safety and marine environment.
Xinjiang's lesser-known seafood export business became a novel alternative to meet the increasing gourmets' demand for safer aquatic products in a safer breeding condition.
In the public impression, Xinjiang is often remembered as somewhere with long hours of sunlight, a vast Gobi desert, and rugged mountains with an extremely dry climate, unsuitable for seafood production due to the massive amount of water required.
However, Xinjiang is a place consisting of multiple rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and natural ponds where the aquatic industry could find a way in.
With the success of China's ecological management in recent years, Xinjiang's seawater aquafarming is on a fast track of development. In Bosten Lake alone, a bumper harvest of more than 4,000 tons of crabs is expected this year. This tasty seafood will be available about 10 days earlier than crabs from Jiangsu province - a traditionally big crab-producing province - creating a good effect for staggered sales.
According to the fisheries supervision office under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Xinjiang, there are 88 types of fish, among which 46 types are indigenous to Xinjiang. The third national land survey showed that more than 46 million mu (2.76 million hectares) of water area and mudflats are suitable materials for fishery.
According to Guinness World Records, Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, is further from the sea than any other city in the world.
But that hasn't stopped China's westernmost region from shattering its cliched dry, barren and deserted image by developing a successful fishery.
The triploid rainbow trout is the star aquatic product that helps Xinjiang attract overwhelming nationwide attention with its bright pink fish meat, which closely resembles the taste and nutritional value of mouthwatering salmon for seafood enthusiasts.
Trout is a cold-water fish that requires a water temperature below 20 degrees Celsius. The fish also require an extremely high water quality.
The breeding waters in Nilka County originate from the Tianshan Mountains, which have high-quality pure water, and the fish eggs are grown in an artificial breeding environment after being introduced from overseas, so the entire process is controlled.
Local fishery companies have adopted environmentally friendly breeding cages with advanced technology that are not only more durable against strong winds and waves but also prevent fish feed and excrement from being directly discharged into the water, posing a threat to the local ecosystem.
Underwater robots with sonar imaging systems and optical cameras are also deployed to clean the breeding cages.
In the triploid rainbow trout production farm at Nilka County, freshly caught trout were processed, packed, and delivered to customers' tables within 24 hours. The aquaculture farm can process a total of 50 tons of trout each day.
Four decades ago, archives show people bred trout in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, which grew into a noticeable trend after the government rolled out policies and guidance to promote the practice as an approach to boost the local economy in recent years. Nilka County seized the chance to foster a fishery base, taking advantage of its natural conditions.
In addition to breeding trout, Xinjiang has also adopted technology to breed meaty white shrimp that used to live in the sea but now grow in freshwater.
In Aksu Prefecture of Xinjiang, people use a large pool of water with similar salinity to seawater to help baby shrimp transition to a freshwater environment. Each day, staff add more local freshwater to dilute the water until it becomes freshwater. The process takes about ten days. Then the shrimp are moved to pure freshwater pools where the temperature is controlled at around 25 degrees Celsius.
In Makit County, close to the Taklimakan Desert, local people grow redclaw crayfish in freshwater too. This technology has helped local residents have fresh seafood rather than depending on imports from other provinces close to the sea, saving transportation costs and time.
Xinjiang also encouraged local aquaculture companies to start pilot projects to repurpose saline-alkali land, which contains sufficient soluble salts and sodium, usually impairing the land's productivity for growing anything.
Local technicians adjust the local saline-alkali water to be similar to natural seawater, simulating the ocean environment and breeding seafood, including tilapia, grouper, abalone, and lobster.
The farmers also take advantage of an array of innovative technologies, such as an environment control system, water quality monitor equipment, and water circulation system, to yield a higher gross production.
Aquaculture has now grown to be an industry that can help thrive the villages and boost local residents' income in Xinjiang. Not only does Xinjiang's seafood provide diverse dinner choices for the locals, but it also attracts growing interest nationwide and abroad.
In 2022, Xinjiang's fishery industry output reached 4.2 billion yuan ($575.8 million), an increase of 921 million yuan compared with 2019. The average annual income of a fisherman in Xinjiang is 19,960 yuan ($2,765), which is 3,410 yuan ($472) higher than the disposable personal income of a local rural resident.
Xinjiang's total fishery production in 2022 reached 173,000 tons, ranking second among the five northwest provinces and regions. The production of rainbow trout hit 4,554 tons, accounting for 15 percent of the country's inland output.
This lucrative business is cropping up in more areas in China with rich saline-alkali land to breed seafood – like shrimp and crabs – using similar techniques.
This is the case in northwest China’s Qinghai Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, north China’s Inner Mongolia, and central China’s Henan Province.
The Chinese government's ecological management and restoration of water bodies have provided prerequisites for the development of the fishery industry in Xinjiang.
In light of China’s calls for security for the supply of agricultural products, inland seafood production in Xinjiang is seen as a role model example.
Beijing has emphasized the value of food security more and more, striving to increase agricultural production autonomy in the face of unpredictable global food markets caused by geopolitical unrest and climate change.
According to the UN, China produces at least 18 percent of the world’s total seafood catch. China has long been the world’s greatest producer of seafood.
By 2025, the Xinjiang government wants to see its yearly production of aquatic goods reach 30,000 tons. China wants to increase its overall aquatic production to 69 million tons by that time.
This popularity gives Xinjiang's seawater aquafarming a good chance to grow, and as more people become aware of Xinjiang's fishery products, the region can attract more investment to expand production and meet consumers' growing demand.
Apart from agricultural breakthroughs, Xinjiang is also set to embrace bigger opportunities and higher quality growth with the newly established Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ).
On Wednesday, the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone was officially inaugurated, becoming the first such zone in China's northwest border region and the 22nd pilot FTZ in the country.
The new pilot FTZ is expected to make Xinjiang a model for promoting high-quality development in the central and western regions. Foreign-funded enterprises are encouraged to invest in the region, where they will have equal access to industrial and regional development policies.
The Ministry of Commerce said that it will support the Xinjiang pilot FTZ in attracting domestic and foreign resources, promoting investment facilitation, enhancing financial services, promoting the development of the digital economy and strengthening service guarantees for talent.
According to a report by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade released on Tuesday, more than half of the surveyed foreign-funded enterprises that intend to increase investment in China are considering to raise capital in the western region.
There is also large scope for infrastructure exchanges between Xinjiang and the five Central Asian countries. The Xinjiang FTZ will strengthen the construction of staging centers for the China-Europe Railway Express, and speed up the development of railway and highway multimodal transport among China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Xinjiang is also a core area on the Silk Road Economic Belt, which is part of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
说起“新疆特产”，你会想到什么？是鲜美的羊肉，还是雪白的新疆棉，亦或甜甜的葡萄干？其实，在最近的二十年里，新疆的鱼早已异军突击，成为“新疆特产”里公认的“硬品牌”。
今年8月，日本福岛核污水排海影响下，更多消费者注意到了新疆。新疆“海鲜”迅速火出了圈，三文鱼、大螃蟹、大龙虾……新疆“海鲜”迎来大丰收。作为中国离海最远的内陆省份，印象中怀抱着沙漠和戈壁滩的新疆，无“海”何以产“海鲜”？
新疆地处亚欧大陆中部，素有“离海洋最远的地方”之称。其北面是阿尔泰山，南面是昆仑山，天山横贯中部，将整个新疆分为南北两部分，南部是塔里木盆地，北部是准噶尔盆地。“三山夹两盆”的地形地貌使得新疆一直以风景宜人以及牛羊肉、阿克苏苹果、哈密瓜等特产而闻名。
鲜有人知的是，在新疆阿勒泰地区11.8万平方公里的总面积里，有46%是戈壁荒漠，但也是在这片土地上，养殖着数十种海鲜水产。在福海县，上世纪80、90年代，居民抽水浇地时，鱼多的时候会把抽水机的管子堵上，因此别称“大漠渔乡”。
这些年许多出国旅游的朋友，都开始感受到新疆渔业的强大：在号称“欧洲水产大国”的芬兰、荷兰等国，新疆产的鲈鱼早已占有一席之地，甚至新疆的鱼子酱也在欧洲抢滩登陆。新疆博斯腾湖产的池沼公鱼，占到了如今日本池沼公鱼市场的七成以上。不夸张的说，今天哪怕一个中国人离国千万里，他依然很有机会在异国他乡，吃到中国新疆的鱼。
同样是最近二十年里，看似低调的新疆渔业，发展速度也十分惊人。2006年时，新疆的水产产量不到8万吨。十年后的2016年，新疆水产产量就突破了16万吨。2008年时，新疆水产产值突破9亿的事儿，还成了大新闻。2020年时，新疆的水产产值，早已突破了27亿。虽然放在全国范围内，排名还是靠后，但放在西北五省，却是响当当的第一。
本世纪初还“吃鱼难”的新疆，现在已是名副其实的“渔业大省”。
据自治区农业农村厅介绍，新疆宜渔水域滩涂面积4600余万亩，水质优良，具备河流、湖泊、鱼塘、水库、滩涂、沟渠、沼泽等水资源养殖条件，具有渔业高质量发展良好的资源禀赋。
同时，新疆渔业资源丰富，共有鱼类88种，其中，土著鱼类46种。历史的演化，地缘的阻隔，使得新疆土著经济鱼类具有明显的区域独特性。2022年，新疆渔业总产量达17.3万吨，在西北五省区排第二，其中三文鱼总产4554吨，产量占全国内陆产量的15%。新疆渔业发展初具规模，开发前景广阔。
目前，水产养殖已成为新疆渔业主产区的富民产业，为乡村产业振兴、促进农民持续稳定增收贡献了重要力量。2022年末，全区渔业总产值达42亿元，较2019年增加9.21亿元。全区渔民人均纯收入19960元，比农村居民人均可支配收入高3410元。
一粒来自丹麦的鱼卵，远渡重洋后在新疆伊犁哈萨克自治州安家。
天山融化的雪水造就了有着“大西洋最后一滴眼泪”之称的赛里木湖，也滋养着鱼儿生长。三年的时间，足够鱼苗生长为两斤左右的成鱼。然后，通过网箱养殖的成群虹鳟鱼经过吸鱼设备输送到岸上进入盛满冰碴的保温箱急速冰鲜，由运输船送到岸边基地进行粗加工，再经冷链由尼勒克县运至乌鲁木齐的精细加工厂。不到24小时，便摆在约4000公里外上海消费者的餐桌上。
新疆伊犁尼勒克县基地养殖的三文鱼是三倍体虹鳟，其品质和营养价值不输进口产品，价格也更具竞争力。三文鱼是娇贵的鱼种，能否成功养殖，自然条件是重要的影响因素之一。但对新疆来说，养殖“海鲜”早有经验可循，在20世纪70年代，伊犁河流域就开始养殖虹鳟。虹鳟得以利用淡水成功养殖，源于当地优质的水资源。
多沙、干旱，只是新疆的另一面。看似“缺水”的新疆，却有着丰富的淡水、咸水资源和多样化的湖泊、河流。新疆的塔里木河，是中国最长的内陆河，为世界第五大内陆河，全长2179千米，流域面积102万平方千米。
新疆的博斯腾湖，是我国最大的内陆淡水吞吐湖，东西长55公里，南北宽25公里，水域面积1646平方千米。这里已经成为新疆最大的渔业生产基地，每年的淡水鱼捕捞量在5000吨左右。三文鱼产地尼勒克县，则是伊犁地区的三大冷区之一，基本没有酷暑，环绕天山的喀什河流淌着天山冰川雪水，目前已经形成三个大中型水库。库区水质清澈且流动缓慢，十分适合冷水鱼类的生长繁育和规模化养殖。
新疆维吾尔自治区水产科学研究所所长张人铭解释，流经尼勒克县的喀什河源自天山雪水，水温常年在20摄氏度以下，水质清澈冷凉，适宜冷水鱼类生长繁育。联合国粮食及农业组织(FAO)官网显示，养殖三文鱼主要有大西洋鲑、虹鳟、银鲑和帝王鲑四种。虹鳟是冷水性洄游鱼类，既可以在海水中也可在淡水中生存。
除了内陆淡水湖渔业，新疆还创新发展起盐碱水模拟海水养殖“内陆海鲜”。2017年，《中央一号文件》首次提出了推进低洼盐碱地养殖，随后，农业部办公厅关于印发《2017年渔业扶贫及援疆援藏行动方案》，盐碱地“造海”养殖海鲜的研究潮在新疆兴起。
和依赖冷水养殖的三文鱼不同，新疆还盛产澳洲龙虾、南美白对虾等水产品。这背后，离不开当地得天独厚的地理条件。新疆虽然没有海洋和海水，但它有盐碱地。远古时期，新疆属于古地中海的一部分，古地中海沧桑巨变后，留下了大片的盐碱地。
这些地的盐碱度很高，其地表水质与海水非常接近，这就为海水养殖提供了天然条件。但更为重要的一环，是将这些盐碱地利用起来，将盐碱水变成“人造海水”。
新疆生产建设兵团第三师红旗农场地处帕米尔高原东部，因地势低洼，周边地下盐碱水都往这里汇集，地下水位比较高，而且水质含盐碱量大，pH值普遍在8以上，大量的盐碱水不能够被农业等其他产业再回收利用，给土壤、作物生产带来了不利影响。
新疆的“海鲜”不是严格意义上的海鲜产品。有的水产品通过相应的技术手段，可适应在适度的盐碱水环境中生长，如南美白对虾，可先进行淡化，让其适应淡水环境后养殖；对于只适应海水环境的品种，部分地区会通过调配适合其生长的“人工海水”的方式进行养殖，但养殖规模较小。
当地因地制宜，从现有资源找出路，利用现有盐碱水资源优势，探索出一条适合农场盐碱水水质养殖的产业发展之路：将当地盐碱水调配成与天然海水较接近的人造海水，模拟海洋环境，水池内的水经过调配后，养出的海鲜口感也和海水养殖差不多。
兵团农业农村局官网信息显示，兵团辖区年均可使用地表盐碱水约1亿立方米，地下盐碱水储量约1.3万亿立方米，宜渔盐碱水资源丰富。自2022年起，兵团每年设立1100万元专项资金，用于支持南疆盐碱水渔业发展。目前，兵团农业农村局正在编制《兵团南疆师市盐碱水渔业养殖规划》，以大力推进南疆盐碱水渔业发展。
利用盐碱水养“海鲜”不光有经济收益。业内人士指出，新疆的水产养殖模式不仅可以充分利用新疆丰富的渔业资源，还可有效节约水资源，降低养殖成本，同时也为解决我国盐碱地的治理难题提供了一种可行性方案。而通过推进池塘标准化改造和尾水治理，推广稻渔综合种养、鱼菜共生等绿色养殖技术模式，将有效降低养殖尾水氮磷排放量。以渔净水、以渔控草、以渔抑藻，既修复了水域生态环境，又维护了水域生物多样性，一举多得。
近年来，中央财政支持新疆渔业发展的力度也越来越大，仅2023年项目资金就达8158万元。新疆天然水域渔业资源开发力度逐年加大，冷水渔业发展呈较快增长态势。与此同时，新疆渔业资源丰富，共有鱼类88种，其中，土著鱼类46种。2022年，新疆渔业总产量达17.3万吨，在西北五省区排名第二，其中三文鱼总产4554吨，产量占全国内陆产量的15%。目前，新疆的三文鱼已经走出新疆，除了供应国内市场外，还出口到新加坡、马来西亚等国家。
中国（新疆）自由贸易试验区11月1日正式揭牌成立，这是中国第22个自由贸易试验区，也是中国在西北沿边地区设立的首个自由贸易试验区。
国务院近日印发《中国（新疆）自由贸易试验区总体方案》（下称《方案》），提出赋予新疆自贸试验区更大改革自主权，深入开展差别化探索，培育壮大新疆特色优势产业等政策，明确了提升贸易便利化水平、强化与周边国家经贸合作等25个方面的具体举措。
《方案》指出，将新疆自贸试验区打造成为促进中西部地区高质量发展的示范样板，构建新疆融入国内国际双循环的重要枢纽。
开展先行先试、制度创新是自贸区的主要任务之一。《方案》提到，要扩大自中亚等周边国家优质农产品、食品进口。除了农业贸易，《方案》还鼓励支持自贸试验区内企业通过合资、合作、并购、参股等多种方式，对中亚等周边共建“一带一路”国家在能源资源、新材料、特色医药、农产品种植等领域开展对外投资。
新疆，有着 “五口通八国、一路连欧亚”的区位优势，是我国连接中亚、西亚、欧洲的关键节点。新疆，现有18个国家对外开放口岸，已开通国际道路运输线路118条、中欧（中亚）班列线路23条、国际航线33条。今年前三季度，新疆外贸进出口总值达到2528.4亿元，同比增长47.3%，首次突破2500亿元大关，超过2022年全年外贸水平。
在《中国（新疆）自由贸易试验区总体方案》中，首次提出要“建设联通欧亚的综合物流枢纽”，同时也赋予新疆自贸试验区更大的改革自主权，包括提升贸易便利化水平、培育外贸新业态新模式、推进内外贸一体化等方面。
商务部副部长郭婷婷在10月31日的新闻发布会上表示，新疆自贸试验区的设立，将有利于把自贸试验区的制度创新优势和新疆的区位优势叠加起来，进一步激发新疆经济社会发展的内生动力，促进高水平开放，推动高质量发展，更好惠及人民群众和经营主体。
她说，商务部将支持新疆自贸试验区紧密结合新疆的实际，努力吸引汇聚国内外资源要素，重点围绕促进投资便利化、增强金融服务功能、推动数字经济发展等方面开展探索。
Executive Editor: Sonia YU
Editor: LI Yanxia
Host: Stephanie LI
Writer: Stephanie LI
Sound Editor: Stephanie LI
Graphic Designer: ZHENG Wenjing, LIAO Yuanni
Produced by 21st Century Business Herald Dept. of Overseas News.
Presented by SFC
编委: 于晓娜
策划、编辑：李艳霞
播音：李莹亮
撰稿：李莹亮
音频制作：李莹亮
设计：郑文静、廖苑妮
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