NOT TO BE
PUBLISHED/BROADCAST BEFORE 9th February, 2009
The fisheries resources of the
State may be classified into reservoirs, riverine, village ponds and high
altitude lakes. Due to the concerted efforts made by the State Government it
has been possible to tap almost all the available resources and make some
exemplary achievements in the Fisheries reservoirs and Commercial farming of
Rainbow Trout.
The State reservoirs have
made a mark by producing highest fish production per hectare as compared to the
other reservoirs in the country. Commercial Trout production touched 14.98
tonnes in public sector and 52.3 tonnes in private sector during 2007-08.
Despite tough eco-climate conditions, fish seed production and fish production
in the State has attained a level of 20 million and 7337 tonnes respectively.
The upper zones of our rivers are the abode of Exotic Trouts and snow Trouts
while the lower parts are bestowed with highly precious fish fauna like Golden
Mahseer (To-putitora, Mystus seenghala, Wallago attu and mirror carps.
State Government is extending premium free insurance cover of Rs
50, 000 to the licensed fishermen operating in the State riverine sector
benefitting about 11 thousand fishermen families in the State. In case of
permanent disability the fishermen will be entitled to get Rs 25,000. Fishery is
one of the sectors where large number of avenues for self-employment exists.
Efforts are afoot by the State Government to encourage people to adopt fisheries
as a full time avocation and to generate self-employment opportunities in
abundance. To provide insurance cover is one of the steps initiated by the
State Government towards the welfare of the fishermen.
There are number of welfare schemes for the welfare of fishermen
in the State. This includes welfare scheme for reservoir fishermen, fishermen
accident insurance scheme, close season assistance scheme and risk fund scheme
to protect the interest of the fishermen while working in adverse circumstance
and conditions. There are 19 Co-operative fishermen societies registered in the
State, which has made Himachal Pradesh the only State in the country where
cooperative fish farming is being promoted.
The reservoirs of Himachal Pradesh have the distinction of
achieving highest per hectare fish production in Gobind Sagar and highest sale
price value of fish catch in Pong Dam in the country.
From the commercial point of view, fish species in Gobind Sagar
and Pong Dam reservoirs have become a source of economic upliftment of local
population. It can be proudly mentioned that Himachal Pradesh is the first
State in the country which has introduced and popularized Trout farming in the
private sector, which is contributing over 50 tonnes of Trout. State is
producing 7,337 tonnes of fish valued at about Rs.37 crore and is contributing
significantly towards providing quality fish to the consumers. Department of
fisheries with its multi-pronged strategy has been able to arrest the downfall
in fish catches during the year 2007-08 when an increase of 350 tonnes was
registered. Efforts are afoot by the State Government to develop the First
Mahseer Fish farm at Badon in tehsil Jogindernagar in District Mandi at a cost
of over Rs 5 crore, while a new farm on the bank of river Tirthan at Hamini (Kullu)
is also being constructed at cost of about 2.5 crore.
The river length of the State is over 3000 kms which is rich in
fish fauna. The three reservoirs of Gobind Sagar, Pong Dam and Chamera with an
area of over 42,000 hectares are rearing Rainbow, brown Trout species etc. The
rural people are also being encouraged to construct fish ponds in their villages
so as to adopt this as income generation activity. State riverines are being
surveyed to reserve the same for fish rearing only.
Efforts of State Government are underway to make fisheries an
employment generation avocation so that rural youth can be engaged in this
gainful employment, besides utilizing the aqua potential available in the State.
