Mahseer make a splash: Fisheries Dept releases 12,000 fingerlings

To promote angling tourism in Himachal Pradesh, the State Fisheries Department has released 12,000 fingerlings of the prized Mahseer fish into the Govind Sagar Reservoir located in Bilaspur district. The seed was produced at the state’s only Mahseer fish breeding centre in Mathyal in Mandi, which has recorded a production of over 50,000 fingerlings this year.

Vivek Chandel, Director of Fisheries Department, said the seed stocking event was conducted near Zakatkhana on the banks of the lake. He said Mahseer is considered an ecologically valuable species that plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the hill rivers and reservoirs. He added that Fisheries Department is continuously making efforts to conserve and enhance the population of this species through regular seed stocking initiatives across the state’s water bodies.

Pankaj Thakur, Assistant Director of Fisheries, said the conservation of Mahseer remains a top priority for the department. “Not only is the Mahseer vital for biodiversity, but it also provides a reliable source of income for local fishermen,” he said. He added that last year, 13,520 Mahseer fingerlings were released into the Govind Sagar Reservoir from the same fish farm in Mathyal.