URUMQI -- Fishing in Ulunggur Lake, one of the largest fishing bases in Altay prefecture, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has started after a four-month fishing ban ended Tuesday.

Located in the northernmost region of Xinjiang, Altay covers 118,000 square kilometers. The region has 1,271 square kilometers of fishable water and 35 fish species, of which six are included on a wild life protection list.

Since last year, the region has imposed a fishing ban to ensure the sustainable development of local fishing. During the ban, all markets, hotels and restaurants were banned from selling and processing wild fish.

According to the local fishery department, any illegal fishing that could damage the local fishing resources will be punished despite the ban being lifted.

Altay prefecture is a major tourist destinations in Xinjiang, known for the Kanas Lake. The region drew 1.86 million visitors in 2017, according to a regional development report.