Surinder Sud: Gains aplenty in trawling the hills

The vast potential of fish farming in India's hill region remains untapped

Oddly, the country's vast hilly region has hardly any tradition of fish farming though it is bestowed with copious water resources and a considerable diversity of coldwater fishes. Many of the indigenous mountainous fish species are highly nutritious and have good taste and other culinary traits. Apart from high-quality protein, they have a fine balance of essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and valuable minerals. Yet, most hilly states import fish from plains for local consumption. There are also other types of fishes, including recreational and ornamental fishes, which lend the region good potential to develop coldwater fisheries-based tourism and other kinds of commercial ventures.

The Himalayan region, spanning from Jammu and Kashmir to the north-eastern states, is estimated to have over 8,000 km-long stretches of rivers and water streams, besides countless natural and man-made water bodies. The higher terrains of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Western Ghats also have numerous water bodies which harbour some valuable coldwater fishes. Many of India's mountainous fish species are world renowned - the notable examples being the indigenous mahseer, snow trout, exotic trout and common carp. Some types of mahseer, such as golden mahseer, deep-bodied mahseer and chocolate mahseer, are well recognised as sports fishes. The northeastern hills abound in ornamental fishes some of which have unique combinations of attractive hues.

There is no dearth of suitable sites which could be utilised for lucrative fish farming (aquaculture), as also for setting up fisheries-based business ventures. These are dotted all along the banks of rivers, rivulets, streams and water bodies. Some of these coldwater spots are already famed as anglers' paradise and can be developed further to woo more fishing enthusiasts. These include Jia Bhoroli and Subansiri in Assam and Kameng and Siang in Arunachal Pradesh, among others.

However, all this potential needs to be tapped in an eco-friendly and sustainable manner to boost the economy of the hilly tracts and generate employment and income for the local population. This is precisely what the fisheries scientists of the Bhimtal-based Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR) are trying to facilitate. They are developing location-specific trout farming technologies and passing them on to the interested people. The fisheries department personnel of hilly states are being taught the ways to breed and rear trout to promote scientific trout aquaculture. This effort, notably, seems to be paying off. Trout farming, which was earlier confined primarily to Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, has now spread to other states as well, especially Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. This aside, the DCFR organises production of quality seed of golden mahseer, one of the prized sports fish species, to facilitate growth of recreational fisheries. Besides, giving the fingerlings to fish farmers, these are also being released into natural habitats to augment their stocks.

The northeastern hilly zone is a virtual repository of ornamental fish species. Their commercialisation does not require much investment and can be taken up by enterprising rural youth. Technical and other kind of assistance for this purpose is available from the DCFR. These indigenous decorative fish species can advantageously replace the exotic ones in aquariums.

Fisheries-based tourism, too, has begun to take roots in the hilly areas though it is yet to expand to its full potential. Some innovative fish farmers have converted their trout and other coldwater fish farms into tourist spots, particularly in the Kullu-Manali belt in Himachal Pradesh and parts of Sikkim. Besides appealing landscape, these joints offer facilities like boating, angling and eateries. The DCFR is identifying more sites where such resorts could be developed to encourage fisheries-related tourism.

However, the coldwater fisheries sector is beset with some formidable threats as well which cannot be overlooked. The biggest challenge comes from unabated habitat degradation, water pollution and man-induced reduction in water flows in rivers and rivulets. Climate change is another dreaded hazard as coldwater fishes are highly sensitive to water temperature. Warmer water may force them to move to higher and difficult-to-access reaches. Well-judged strategies are needed to stave off these perils.

surinder.sud@gmail.com