Srinagar, Jul 27: While Kashmir sees decline in native fish species, the production of Trout has tripled for the last three years in the valley.
The indigenous fish species of Kashmir have shown sharp decline with the result some of them have become “endangered and threatened”.
The major fish fauna of Kashmir water bodies comprise of exotic carp (Cyprinus carpio) and indigenous Schizothorax species. However, the indigenous fish species Schizothorax have shown decline in production.
At the same time, there has been a considerable increase in the production of Trout fish in the valley. As per the official figures, the production of Trout fish was 650 tonnes in 2019 which increased to 2000 tonnes by 2023 indicating around 300 percent increase in Trout production for the last three years.
There are over 800 private trout fish units in Kashmir. Besides, trout is present in all the streams and Nallahs of the valley. The important ones are Lidder, Wangath, Gurez, Hamal, Lam, Sindh, Kishenganga, Sukhnag, Doodhganga, Erin, Ferozpur(Tangmarg), Bringi, Aharbal, Hirpora, Dachigam, Kokernag, Naristan, Madhumati and Nowbugh.
In Anantnag district, a lot of fisheries farms have been established by people with the support of the government. In June 2018, Anantnag district was also declared as trout fish district of India.
A senior official of the Fisheries Department said there are over 200 private fish farms in Anantnag district alone. “This sector has a huge potential and is also being introduced in other parts,” he said.
The official said fish culture has a huge scope across the world.
“The trout which has been introduced in Kashmir is a cold water fish. It can be reared anywhere in the world where there remains a temperature below 20 degree celsius and needs running water,” he said.
“Trout has a success rate wherever it has favorable temperature in and outside India. Rainbow was introduced in Kashmir over 100 years ago. Since then it is being produced in Kashmir and its seeds are also supplied outside,” he said.
Brought to Kashmir from Europe over a century ago, the trout is being introduced in various parts of the country.
Various areas across the country including Shillong, Shimla, Nagaland, Arunchal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Sikkim and neighbouring country Nepal are rearing trout fish in their respective places that have been transported from Kashmir. The first batch of trout ova of 10,000 eggs arrived from the UK in 1899. Unfortunately the first batch perished enroute due to non-existence of air transport. The 2nd shipment of trout ova arrived from Scotland on December 19, 1900 through J.S.Macdonall and were reared in the premises of a private carpet factory owner (Michel) in Baghi Dilawar Khan in Srinagar.
