Golden mahseer, no more an endangered species

Tribune News Service

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Shimla, December 8

The Fisheries Department has conserved the golden mahseer, considered to be the world’s hardest fighting fish, through a plan launched to improve the number of the species in the reservoirs and rivers.

According to state spokesperson, the fish has been declared an endangered species by the International Union of Conservation of Natural Resources due to pollution, habitat loss and over-fishing. But it is thriving in fish farm at Machhial in Mandi through artificial breeding in captivity.

The government is setting up a new mahseer hatchery-cum-carp breeding unit at Sunni in Shimla that will cost Rs 296.97 lakh. It will develop methods of breeding under safe conditions.

At present, 10,893 families are involved in captive fisheries. Of this, 5,883 families are involved in riverine fishing while 5,010 are in fish catches in the reservoir area.

The state recorded 20,900, 28,700 and 41,450 mahseer fish eggs in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20. The state recorded the mahseer production from Gobind Sagar (16.182 MT), Kol Dam (0.275 MT), Pong Dam (28.136 MT) and Ranjeet Sagar (0.718 MT) in 2018-19. Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Virender Kanwar said the fish was present in around 500-km area of the state. Mahseer is one of the best sports fish which attracts the anglers from different parts of the world.

He said despite being declared an endangered species, it is found in abundance in the state and contributes about 10-15 per cent of the total catch in the state reservoirs.

He said the main focus of the artificial breeding of mahseer was on its conservation and ranching of the river system with mahseer seed to promote eco-tourism.

There are many natural mahseer sanctuaries called Machhial where it is conserved by people. The department also conserves the fish by applying fisheries Act and rules strongly.

Breeding unit for Sunni

• The fish is thriving in fish farm at Machhial in Mandi through artificial breeding in captivity
• The govt is setting up a new mahseer hatchery-cum-carp breeding unit at Sunni in Shimla that will cost Rs 296.97 lakh
• It will develop methods of breeding under safe conditions. 
• The state recorded the mahseer production from Gobind Sagar (16.182 MT), Kol Dam (0.275 MT),  Pong Dam (28.136 MT) and Ranjeet Sagar (0.718 MT) in 2018-19.