139
that the reservoirs undergo large seasonal changes
in water level, particularly in summer.
Further, some natural lakes in Xinjiang are
also generally utilised. In 1980, fi ngerlings of 16
species from the Erqishi River were released into
Sayram Lake (Pan et al . 1989 ), out of which three
species ( A. laticeps , Hedinichthys yarkamtensis ,
S. biddulphi ) became well established and now
dominate the catch. In Bosten Lake , perch now
comprises about 80 % of the catch, although its
small size and carnivorous habit have contributed
to a decrease in the total yield.
Aquaculture production in Qinghai has expanded
considerably since it became commercially signifi -
cant around 1981. In 1988, it had provided about
11 % of total provincial fi shery production.
Reservoirs
There are about 617 reservoirs with a total area
74,100 ha and volume 25.1 km
3 (Liu et al . 1989 ).
13 of them are large (>100 × 106 m
3
), 89 are
medium (10–100 × 106 m
3
) and 507 are small
(<10 × 106 m
3
, sensu Lu 1986 ). Some of them may
contain native species (e.g. A. laticeps , S. biddulphi ), but these may have little economic value and
may have been displaced by introduced species.
The largest of 137 reservoirs in the Qinghai
Province is Longyangxia Reservoir , with a potential fi sh-rearing area of 20,000 ha, but presently
exploited only for experiments with caged rainbow trout. There are another six medium and 130
small reservoirs and 530 small canals.
Aquaculture in Practice
Aquaculture has expanded following recent economic reforms, and there are now about 5,000 ha
of ponds in Qinghai and Xinjiang provinces.
Numerous hatcheries and fi ngerling farms have
been established, especially below dams. In
Xinjiang the total production of fi ngerlings is
about 100 million, with a potential capacity of
500 million, and the province is able to supply
most of regional demand for stocking.
Fishery Management Stations
Although techniques for lake fi shery management are scarcely developed, reservoir fi shery
management is comparatively sophisticated
because a number of Fishery Management
Stations (FMS) were established in the 1980s
(Liu 1983 , 1984 ; Lu 1986 ). These have imposed
seasonal restrictions to protect valuable species,
especially during spawning, when fi shing on
river beds and at river mouths is banned, and certain kinds of gear are prohibited.
Gear, Processing and Marketing
Fishing Gears
Boats with large trawl or seine nets were introduced
to the larger lake fi sheries at the time when largescale exploitation began, and the 125-hp wooden
pair trawlers in Qinghai Lake were progressively
replaced by 250-hp steel-hulled vessels in 1989 and
1990. Fixed nets are used in lakes of moderate or
low productivity (e.g. Keluke Lake, Qinghai).
Processing and Marketing
Most of the catch is transported fresh to nearby
cities. In the 1960s, when production was high
and prices low, frozen naked carp were exported
to Lanzhou, Xian and other cities, but production
since has declined considerably. Methods of temporary storage include salting, drying, freezing,
gutting on ice, live fi sh (nearby markets only) and
canning. The main marketing channels are the
producers, including private, collective and state
farms that sell directly to consumers in nearby
towns, and companies that obtain fi sh from the
producers to sell in local and distant markets.
Introduced Species
About 46 species, mostly cyprinids, have been
introduced into the region from other parts of
China since the 1950s. Several local endemic species have been translocated throughout the region
and elsewhere, and some are now important fi shery targets, having replaced native species.
Methods for artifi cially induced spawning have
been perfected for many species. Introduced species of freshwater crabs, prawns and macrophytes
have also become economically signifi cant.
HA Lakes of China Exemplifi ed
Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake (one of the largest lakes in China),
lying at 3,194 m MSL, between 100° 10′ E and
6.9 High Altitude (HA) Lentic Bodies
that the reservoirs undergo large seasonal changes
in water level, particularly in summer.
Further, some natural lakes in Xinjiang are
also generally utilised. In 1980, fi ngerlings of 16
species from the Erqishi River were released into
Sayram Lake (Pan et al . 1989 ), out of which three
species ( A. laticeps , Hedinichthys yarkamtensis ,
S. biddulphi ) became well established and now
dominate the catch. In Bosten Lake , perch now
comprises about 80 % of the catch, although its
small size and carnivorous habit have contributed
to a decrease in the total yield.
Aquaculture production in Qinghai has expanded
considerably since it became commercially signifi -
cant around 1981. In 1988, it had provided about
11 % of total provincial fi shery production.
Reservoirs
There are about 617 reservoirs with a total area
74,100 ha and volume 25.1 km
3 (Liu et al . 1989 ).
13 of them are large (>100 × 106 m
3
), 89 are
medium (10–100 × 106 m
3
) and 507 are small
(<10 × 106 m
3
, sensu Lu 1986 ). Some of them may
contain native species (e.g. A. laticeps , S. biddulphi ), but these may have little economic value and
may have been displaced by introduced species.
The largest of 137 reservoirs in the Qinghai
Province is Longyangxia Reservoir , with a potential fi sh-rearing area of 20,000 ha, but presently
exploited only for experiments with caged rainbow trout. There are another six medium and 130
small reservoirs and 530 small canals.
Aquaculture in Practice
Aquaculture has expanded following recent economic reforms, and there are now about 5,000 ha
of ponds in Qinghai and Xinjiang provinces.
Numerous hatcheries and fi ngerling farms have
been established, especially below dams. In
Xinjiang the total production of fi ngerlings is
about 100 million, with a potential capacity of
500 million, and the province is able to supply
most of regional demand for stocking.
Fishery Management Stations
Although techniques for lake fi shery management are scarcely developed, reservoir fi shery
management is comparatively sophisticated
because a number of Fishery Management
Stations (FMS) were established in the 1980s
(Liu 1983 , 1984 ; Lu 1986 ). These have imposed
seasonal restrictions to protect valuable species,
especially during spawning, when fi shing on
river beds and at river mouths is banned, and certain kinds of gear are prohibited.
Gear, Processing and Marketing
Fishing Gears
Boats with large trawl or seine nets were introduced
to the larger lake fi sheries at the time when largescale exploitation began, and the 125-hp wooden
pair trawlers in Qinghai Lake were progressively
replaced by 250-hp steel-hulled vessels in 1989 and
1990. Fixed nets are used in lakes of moderate or
low productivity (e.g. Keluke Lake, Qinghai).
Processing and Marketing
Most of the catch is transported fresh to nearby
cities. In the 1960s, when production was high
and prices low, frozen naked carp were exported
to Lanzhou, Xian and other cities, but production
since has declined considerably. Methods of temporary storage include salting, drying, freezing,
gutting on ice, live fi sh (nearby markets only) and
canning. The main marketing channels are the
producers, including private, collective and state
farms that sell directly to consumers in nearby
towns, and companies that obtain fi sh from the
producers to sell in local and distant markets.
Introduced Species
About 46 species, mostly cyprinids, have been
introduced into the region from other parts of
China since the 1950s. Several local endemic species have been translocated throughout the region
and elsewhere, and some are now important fi shery targets, having replaced native species.
Methods for artifi cially induced spawning have
been perfected for many species. Introduced species of freshwater crabs, prawns and macrophytes
have also become economically signifi cant.
HA Lakes of China Exemplifi ed
Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake (one of the largest lakes in China),
lying at 3,194 m MSL, between 100° 10′ E and
6.9 High Altitude (HA) Lentic Bodies