Once considered unsuitable for aquaculture, saline-alkaline water in Alar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has been transformed into a thriving regional aquaculture base, supplying freshwater fish and seafood to inland residents.
Located at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, along the northern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, Alar is where the Tarim River originates and is home to vast expanses of saline-alkaline water.
Chen Wuqun, a native of coastal Zhejiang province and general manager of Xinjiang San'a Agricultural Development Co Ltd, was introduced to Alar by local officials in 2023.
"Because Xinjiang's saline-alkali land and brackish water had long sat idle, local officials proposed raising seafood here," Chen recalled. After analyzing the water quality several times, he deemed the plan feasible and began breeding mud crabs, a local specialty in his hometown.
To create an environment suitable for the crabs, technicians adjusted the saline-alkaline water to match the mineral composition of natural seawater, Chen said.
The initiative began with about 7 hectares of aquaculture ponds, expanded to more than 26 hectares in 2025 and reached 80 hectares this year. The so-called "desert mud crabs" have proved popular with consumers across Xinjiang.
The operation now has 30 specialized aquaculture ponds designed for different aquatic species, including mud crabs, marine shrimp, mullet, sea bass and clams.
"Because Xinjiang's water sources remain pristine and unpolluted, the seafood raised here is exceptional in quality," Chen added.
"Conditioning water quality remains the greatest challenge in desert aquaculture," said Huang Zhaohua, president of Alar Changxin Fisheries Co Ltd. His company works with technical teams from Tarim University to tailor water conditions to the needs of different species by blending saline-alkaline water with freshwater and adding essential trace elements.
Founded in 2017, Huang's company raises species including sturgeon, California bass, sea bass, native river perch and Ili perch, supplying more than 1,000 metric tons of aquatic products to the market annually.
In 2025, Alar's total output of aquatic products reached 11,693 tons, generating an output value of 360 million yuan ($54 million).
