Fish and Fisheries of Jammu & Kashmir
The vast water spread area and the peculiar geophysical conditions that the state of the Jammu and Kashmir is bestowed with, provide a great scope for a number of fish species to thrive in natural as well as controlled condition. In both the divisions of the state viz. Kashmir and Jammu, we find the fishes and fisheries activities peculiar to their respective geophysical conditions. While in Kashmir, cold water fishes and their fisheries largely prevail; in Jammu the warm water fishes and their fisheries are found. Let us discuss fisheries of the J & K and the role of Fisheries Department in brief in the following paragraphs.
Capture Fisheries.
Under this programme the department of Fisheries has given protection to the existing Ichthyic-fauna of the J&K waters and has introduced exotic varieties of fish which have thriven well. The important fish species which exist today in the waters of J&K are:
1. Cyprinus carpio communis (Punjabi Gad)
2. Cyprinus carpio specularis (Punjabi Gad)
3. Carassius carassius (Ganga)
4. Schizothorax esocinus (Chhiroo)
5. Schizothorax Planifrons (Chaush Gad)
6. Schizothorax curvifrons (Sattaar Gad)
7. Schizothorax oppogan
8. Schizothorax longipinnis
9. Schizothorax punctatus
10. Labeo dero (Roput Gad)
11. Labeo dvocheilus
12. Crossocheilus latius
13. Pantius conchonius
14. Botai birdi
15. Nemacheilus kashmerensis
16. N.marmoratus
The department implements the fisheries Act in its true letter and spirit and hence protects the fish fauna and the habitat thereof. For the implementation of the Fisheries Act, an active field staff has been employed. For the capture of fish from the various water bodies, licenses are issued to the fishermen and the sport fishers. Thousands of fishermen families depend directly on the capture of fish. The Department is implementing various welfare schemes for this community, the mention of which will be presented in the coming chapters.
Sport Fisheries
Another aspect of the capture fisheries is the sport fisheries. The most popular sport fishing is that of Trout angling. The Department has introduced trout in all the cold water streams and thus has made this famous fish available for game fishers. Similarly, fishes like Mahaseer and common carp are also captured by these gamers. The Department issues special permits and licenses for this.
Culture Fisheries
Cold Water Fisheries
Kashmir valley is especially bestowed with cold and crystal clear water which is apt for trout. The Department has exploited the scope provided by these waters and has virtually left no stream without stocking with trout. With the assistance of European Economic Community (EEC) the department has established a Trout Farm at Kokernag which is of international repute. The farm produces tonnes of Fish annually. Another farm with latest hatchery facilities has been established in Srinagar at Dachhigam. Every year millions of Trout fry are produced to stock various cold water bodies with. Apart from these two more than 20 other trout farms have been established in different parts of the state. These farms and hatcheries fulfil the need of the natural water bodies and satisfy the demand of the consumers.
The warm water Fisheries
Carps were introduced in Kashmir in 1959. Since then they have reached to every part of the state. The department has established carp farms at various places in both Jammu as well as Kashmir Division. The biggest carp farm is at Manasbal. This is spread on an area of 20 hactares. Another such farm is the National Fish Seed Farm Kathua (Jammu). This is also a big farm spread over an area of 18 hectares. The two farms produce millions of carp fry and fingerlings (fish seed) that satisfies the need of the natural waters as well the private farms, besides being able to meet the demand of the local consumers.
Special attention to the indigenous fish species:
The indigenous fish species of the J&K is schizothorax. Due to increase in pollution and shrinkage of water bodies as also due to its competition with the carps, this fish has almost lost the battle of survival and is on the verge of extinction. The department has taken special interest and has given extra-ordinary importance to the preservation of its natural habitat and breeding grounds. A number of places have been declared sanctuaries and fishing has been prohibited by law. Moreover, efforts are on to culture the schizothorax in controlled conditions-the effort which is hitherto fruitless.
Mahaseer Fish Cutlure
Mahaseer (Tor Spp.) is a large sized migratory fish. It was present in the waters of J&K profusely in the olden days. The fish grew to a size of 1.5 metres and weighed upto 20 kgs. The locals of Kashmir called it “Pae’rium Gaad” (meaning the foreign fish). Unfortunately due to the construction of Mangla Dam on the river Jehlum by Pakistan blocked its way of migration from the Arabian sea to Kashmir. As a result, the fish was confined to some places only. The Department of Fisheries made arrangements for the breading and culture of this fish under controlled conditions. Through ‘Reservoir Fisheries Development Project (RFP)’, steps have been taken to rehabilitate this fish in Salaal and RAjit Sagar dam reservoirs of Jammu Division. Moreover, restrictions for catching the fish have been strictly imposed. Besides, steps have been taken regarding artificial stocking and “river ranching”. Also, efforts are on to construct a ‘Mahaseer Breeding Farm’ at Anji (Riasi, Udhampur). By such progressive steps of the Department of Fisheries, the Mahaseer is now available to commons and present in Jammu rivers also.
Other Activities of the Department
1. RFFDA’s: The fish culture in the public sector has taken up nicely in the state. Now efforts are on to introduce it in the Private Sector. For this to achieve two Regional Fish Farmers Development Agencies (RFFDA’s) have been established in both the Divisions. The role of RFFDA’s is to commonise the concept of Private Fish Farmig. These Agencies provide free expertise to interested entrepreneurs. Special trainings and demonstration programmes are conducted for the benefit of fish Farmers.
2. Extention Wings: In every district of the state, separate extension wings have been created to extend fish culture to far and wide places. Each extension wing is linked with the other for better co-ordination and supervised by the RFFDA of the concerned Division. The main duty of these extension wings is to look after the matters of the existing private fish farms and to survey the possibilities of extending the fixh farming in the unrepresented areas especially in the far flung areas.
3. Survey and investigation: In order to measure the efforts to be made to develop fisheries and to improve upon the departmental activities , a team of surveyors is working in both the divisions of the state. Every year surveys of the fisheries resources are conducted and reports published ate district, division and state levels. These survey reports give an insight of the areas where the efforts need to be made. It is proposed that the department shall conduct scientific studies of various water bodies to work out the feasibility of these water bodies to stock with the fast growing fish species to augment the over all production of fish.
4. Aquaria: Two aquaria, one at Bahu Fort, Jammu and other at Nehru Park, Srinagar, have been constructed
5. Fish Markets and Preservation Centers: As a result of consistant efforts made by the department, the production of fish has grown manifold and has touched 16 thousand tonnes per year. Production alone is not suffiecient. An effective marketing cum preservation system is necessary. Keeping this in view, the deparment has constituted marketing wings in both the Divisions. In Jammu, a fish market – cum cold storage plant at Narwal is already functioning. Srinagar has a fully functional marketing centre where Trout Fish is sold to the common people regularly.
6. Welfare Schemes: The are more than 30,000 people in the State who directly depend on the fish trade. They are the “Gaada Hanjees” the fishermen community of the state. The Department of Fisheries works hard to uplift them by implementing a number of welfare schemes. These include:
i) Providing of free nylon twine for making nets etc. every year
ii) Providing of Accidental Insurance Cover
iii) Scholarships for school going children.
iv) Providing of Tool Kits from time to time
v) Assistance in building residential houses.
For further details cotact M. Yasin Bhat : yasinbhatkashmir@gmail.com
