Himachal Pradesh Begins Stocking Govind Sagar With 2 Lakh Fish Fingerlings

The Fisheries Department has started stocking fish seed in Himachal Pradesh’s major reservoirs to promote fish production and strengthen the livelihood of local fishermen. The programme has been launched from Govind Sagar Lake in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.

In the first phase, a total of 2,05,866 fingerlings of Katla and Silver Carp were released into Govind Sagar Lake. The high-quality fish seed was brought from West Bengal through a contractor engaged by the department.

The stocking programme is being carried out as part of the department’s annual effort to increase fish production in the state’s large water bodies. The department has also set a target of releasing about 1 crore fish seed in the main reservoirs of Himachal Pradesh in different phases.

Confirming the development, Omkant Thakur, Director of the Directorate of Fisheries, said the department carries out fish-seed stocking every year in major reservoirs of the state. These include Govind Sagar, Pong Dam, Koldam and Chamera Dam.

He said the programme has been planned to support local fishermen and strengthen their livelihood. The first phase began at Govind Sagar Lake, where Katla and Silver Carp fish seed was released in the presence of departmental officials, fishermen and members of fisheries cooperative societies.

The department said the fish seed is procured from outside the state every year through contractors. The seed is then released in different reservoirs of Himachal Pradesh in a phased manner.

As part of the current programme, high-quality fish seed of Katla and Silver Carp has been specially brought from West Bengal. The department said the move is aimed at increasing fish production in Govind Sagar Lake.

Omkant Thakur said there had been a continuing demand for better-quality fish seed in Govind Sagar Lake as well as in other major reservoirs of the state. Keeping this demand in mind, the department has tried to make high-quality fish seed available in line with the expectations of fishermen and local stakeholders.

The fish seed released in Govind Sagar Lake includes 2,05,866 fingerlings of Katla and Silver Carp in the first phase. The larger stocking plan will continue in stages across the state’s main reservoirs, with the overall target set at about 1 crore fish seed.

The department has expressed hope that the initiative will help increase fish production in Govind Sagar Lake in the coming period. It also expects the programme to provide economic benefits to fishermen in the area and support their livelihood through improved fish production.