HUANGPU SHANGHAI

Workers process rainbow trout at a fish farm in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, earlier this month.

Mutton and sweet fruit ordinarily steal the culinary spotlight in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. But they will soon have to share the stage with an unlikely contender in the inland region — freshwater fish and aquatic products.

Freshwater aquatic produce, which is cultivated in cold, clear water from melting snow, is an expanding industry in Xinjiang with plenty of market opportunities.

The farming of rainbow trout raised in rivers in Nilka county is expected to reach 6,000 metric tons this year, nearly double last year's output, according to Xinjiang Tianyun Organic Agriculture.

Rainbow trout, a relative to salmon, is known for its meaty texture and few bones, making it an ideal food source.

"Demand in the market for trout is significant," said Li Chunyu, general manager of Tianyun. "Our company is currently operating at full capacity, producing fresh trout every day."

China is the world's largest market for aquatic products. Last year, the country imported 4.54 million metric tons of aquatic products, an increase of more than 20 percent year-on-year. China has also become one of the world's largest salmon importers, with Norway, Canada and Chile as the main suppliers, according to the General Administration of Customs.

Because of concerns regarding seafood after discharges into the Pacific Ocean of nuclear-contaminated water from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, freshwater aquatic products will likely become more popular in the future.

There are many choices, including South American white shrimp, tilapia, abalone and lobster being raised in Xinjiang and making their way onto consumers' dining tables nationwide. Some of these products are also sold in foreign markets.

The high salinity of the ground in many parts of Xinjiang and the region's natural lakes provide a conducive environment for fish farms, experts said.

Farmers in a village in Midong district of Urumqi, the region's capital, have been busy catching South American white shrimp lately. The village has 10 freshwater shrimp ponds that produce more than 50 tons annually.

The melting snow and glaciers of the Tianshan mountain range — water known for its purity — make for superior-quality fish.

Taking advantage of the water resources, Tianyun has been developing fish farms and processing facilities since 2014 in Nilka county. It now offers a series of products, ranging from fillets to minced trout.

The company mainly sells its trout in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian and markets in Singapore and Malaysia.

"The meltwater is pure, cold and rich in dissolved oxygen, which is perfect for raising trout," said Li, the company's manager.

The water must be deep enough to accommodate environmentally friendly net cages, which have a diameter of 51 meters and a depth of 25 meters, ensuring optimal fish growth.

To maintain a clean and healthy river, the company uses automated machines to clean fish droppings, leftover bait and silt from the riverbed.

The trout business has brought benefits to local farmers in the region. "We provide jobs for more than 100 local farmers, with 39 percent belonging to ethnic minorities," Li said.

The average monthly salary for breeding and processing jobs reached 6,800 yuan ($935) last year, local media reported.