OUTLAW OCEAN PROJECT: The price paid beyond the plate — the huge costs of farmed seafood

South Africa is playing a role in China's substantial desert fish-farming boom. As China turns desert groundwater into fish farms in Xinjiang, South African sardines and anchovies are contributing to this "Blue Miracle." China's Xinjiang region, located in the far northwest of the country, is a land of extreme conditions with mountains reaching up to 28,251 feet (8,610.9m), including the second-highest peak, K2.

The Karakoram Range, Kunlun range, Altai range, and Tian Shan form the geographical boundaries of Xinjiang, causing it to receive very little rainfall. The Taklamakan Desert, the largest desert in China, covers much of the region and is known for its sandstorms and harsh environment. Historically, Xinjiang has been inhabited by various ethnic groups including Turkic Uyghurs, Han Chinese, Kazakhs, Mongols, and Tajiks.

During the 1949 revolution, the Chinese government began to view Xinjiang as a valuable territory and initiated efforts to tame and exploit its resources. China discovered oil and gas in three basins in Xinjiang, which led to the construction of the West-East Gas Pipeline. The government also re-engineered the Tarim River to make the region more arable and established the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) to convert herders into farmers.

Today, Xinjiang contributes to the global cotton supply and exports various crops, including tomatoes, lavender, and wine grapes. However, an unexpected and exceptional development in Xinjiang is the growth of fish, demonstrating how modern aquaculture shifts costs across oceans, ecosystems, and people.