Kill three birds with one stone, still keep "seafood"! China has its tricks, there is no "sea" inland

When it comes to seafood, many people may think of it as a specialty of coastal cities. But recently, Xinjiang, which is located inland and is called "the farthest place from the sea", welcomed a Dafengshou (Salad of assorted fresh vegetables) of "seafood".

Many people have questions: how to cultivate "seafood" in inland areas where there is no "sea"? The answer points to a keyword - "Seafood terrestrial farming" model.

What is the "Seafood Land Farming" model?

The "Seafood Land Farming" model refers to the creation of an ecological environment similar to the ocean on land, and the artificial cultivation of marine products such as fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish. There are various methods to create an ecological environment similar to the ocean.

One is to adopt a "light shrimp farming" approach.

At a South American white shrimp breeding base located in Aksu City, Xinjiang, it is already the season for a bountiful harvest of South American white shrimp.

According to Zhou Jingsen, the person in charge of the breeding base, there are two ponds covering an area of 16 acres. The water is snow water from the Tianshan Mountains, and the shrimp seedlings are introduced from Hainan. The breeding method is "light aquaculture of sea shrimp".

"Light aquaculture of sea shrimp" refers to the cultivation of sea shrimp in freshwater, and the biggest technical difficulty is to adapt the sea shrimp to the freshwater environment of Xinjiang.

So, how can shrimp adapt to freshwater environments? Zhou Jingsen introduced three steps:

The key to the first step is to dilute the pool. This is an independent pool, and the water in this pool needs to be adjusted to a water environment close to seawater. After the introduction of shrimp seedlings, they are immediately placed in this pond for breeding.

The second step is to add water for desalination. Starting from the second day after the shrimp fry enter the pond, add local fresh water from Aksu, Xinjiang to the desalination tank at a fixed time and quantity every day, gradually reducing the salinity of the water in the pond and allowing the shrimp fry to adapt to the local environment.

The third step is to change the pool. After adding fresh water every day for seven to ten days to make the water environment in the desalination tank similar to that in the pond, the shrimp fry can be put into the pond for aquaculture.

Zhou Jingsen said that the water temperature that South American white shrimp usually adapt to is around 25 ℃. If the water temperature is below 18 ℃, it is not suitable for shrimp growth. "After the desalination process is completed and the shrimp fry enter the pond, we need to monitor the temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH value, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrite water environment of the pond every day. This year, the expected yield per acre can reach 400 kilograms."

Secondly, skillfully utilizing resources to "build the sea" and turning saline alkali water into "artificial seawater".

The Red Flag Farm of the Third Division of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is located in the eastern part of the Pamir Plateau. Due to its low-lying terrain, the surrounding underground saline alkali water gathers here, with a relatively high groundwater level and a high saline alkali content in the water. The pH value is generally above 8, and a large amount of saline alkali water cannot be recycled by other industries such as agriculture, which has brought adverse effects on local soil and crop production.

Adapting to local conditions, finding a way out from existing resources, utilizing the advantages of existing saline alkali water resources, and exploring an industrial development path suitable for agricultural saline alkali water quality aquaculture.

Fish ponds on saline alkali land in Xinjiang

At a saline alkali land intelligent ecological seafood breeding base in Hongqi Farm, staff are busy salvaging, packing, and shipping local seafood.

The staff said, "There are abundant saline alkali water resources here, and we will mix the local saline alkali water into 'artificial seawater' that is closer to natural seawater, simulating the marine environment. More than 50 tons of 'seafood' expected to be launched in September have all been reserved."

At an aquaculture base in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, a batch of South American white shrimp will also be launched soon. It is worth mentioning that the area where this base is located is saline alkali land. In order to turn saline alkali land into treasure, technicians built greenhouses according to local conditions, adjusted the water supply for shrimp seedlings, and overcame the adverse effects of high salinity and cold on aquaculture.

Previously barren saline alkali marshes can now produce fresh aquatic products.

Why adopt the "seafood land-based" model?

Firstly, adopting a "seafood land-based" model enriches people's dining tables and provides cost-effective products.

Recently, Australian freshwater lobsters raised in Maigaiti County, Xinjiang have been launched one after another. The lobsters here have a large and thick body, tender and smooth meat, and a fresh and sweet taste. The person in charge of the breeding base said that since the lobster was launched in September, it has sold nearly 500 kilograms.

The owner of a local seafood restaurant said, "Since McGetty County started breeding Australian freshwater lobsters, we no longer purchase from other places. While saving costs, the quality has also been guaranteed."

The variety and yield of land grown seafood in Wuhan are increasing. Nowadays, Hubei Province has achieved "seafood land cultivation" of products such as eel, South American white shrimp, and grouper, with both quality and production capacity improved, making people's dining tables full of freshness.

Zhang Meilian, the owner of a seafood restaurant in Wuhan, is selling Wuhan made grouper for the first time this year, and she is satisfied with both the quality and price. "The price is a bit more favorable, two or three yuan cheaper per kilogram because the transportation distance is closer and fresher," she said

Secondly, adopting the "seafood land-based farming" model provides a feasible solution to the management problem of saline alkali land in China.

The soil in saline alkali land has heavy salt accumulation and cannot be cultivated. By adopting a "seafood land farming" model, these lands can be reused. Someone may ask: Will seafood grown in saline alkali water taste good?

In the ecological intelligent constant temperature breeding base of Hongqi Farm in the Third Division of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, South American white shrimp, sea bass, grouper, and other fish are raised in circular fish ponds. The relevant person in charge introduced, "Shrimp grown in saline alkali water has a unique flavor, a particularly good taste, and fresh and sweet meat without losing the elasticity of freshwater shrimp. The fish and shrimp raised last year will take a few more months to go on sale, but now many customers have placed orders in advance."

According to the Agriculture and Rural Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, the average annual usable surface saline alkali water in the jurisdiction of the Corps is about 100 million cubic meters, and the underground saline alkali water reserves are about 1.3 trillion cubic meters. The resources of saline alkali water suitable for fishing are abundant.

Starting from 2022, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps will establish a special fund of 11 million yuan annually to support the development of salt alkali water fisheries in southern Xinjiang. At present, the Agriculture and Rural Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is preparing the "Salt Alkali Water Fisheries and Breeding Plan of the Southern Xinjiang Division City of the Corps" to vigorously promote the development of salt alkali water fisheries in southern Xinjiang.

Finally, adopting the "seafood land-based farming" model provides a "road to wealth" and also drives local economic development.

Recently, a farming cooperative located in Zhangye, Gansu welcomed a bountiful harvest of South American white shrimp. In January of this year, the cooperative invested in the first batch of shrimp seedlings and adopted a "seafood land farming" model for factory farming. The head of the cooperative introduced that the cooperative can produce 6 batches of South American white shrimp per year, with a yield of up to 20000 kilograms per batch. "It is mainly sold to places such as Jiayuguan and Zhangye in Gansu, and in less than a month, more than 3000 kilograms of shrimp have been sold out."

At the largest "Seafood Land Farming" base in Hubei Province, a factory based seawater circulation aquaculture model is adopted to achieve shrimp on the market throughout the year, with an expected annual output of 1 million pounds. Farming training and shrimp fry output are also provided to surrounding farmers to promote income growth.

In August of this year, the construction project of Nanmei white shrimp aquaculture in Sandaoqiao Town, Hangjinhou Banner, Bayannur City, Inner Mongolia started laying the foundation. The relevant person in charge introduced that after the project is completed, 300 million South American white shrimp seedlings will be cultivated annually, with an annual production of 1200 tons of commercial shrimp and a production value of over 80 million yuan. It will radiate and drive 183 surrounding farmers, effectively utilizing nearly 1000 acres of saline alkali land.

Seafood land-based farming not only provides a feasible solution to the problem of saline alkali land management in China, but also promotes income growth for farmers and drives local economic development. In the future, more and more seafood will enter the daily dining tables of thousands of households.

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