Himachal Pradesh launches artificial propagation programme of mahseer fish for conservation

• Himachal Pradesh fisheries department has started an artificial propagation programme for rehabilitation and conservation of Golden Mahseer fish.
• Under this programme, a hatchery has been set up in the state with an outlay of Rs 6 crore to rear mahseer fish and release its fingerlings into the wild.

Reasons of population decline

• The population of the golden mahseer has seen decline in recent times in rivers of Himachal Pradesh as they are hunted for sport and food.
• It also has declined due to various reasons such as construction of dams, barrages, indiscriminate fishing of juvenile and brood fish, pollution, introduction of exotic species and habitat deterioration.

About Golden mahseer

• Golden mahseer is the longest-living freshwater fish, It Is also known as the tiger of Indian rivers and belongs to the genus Tor.
• It is native to mountain and sub-mountain regions and is found at altitudes of up to 2,000 metres above sea level.
• During the southwest floods it migrates upstream for spawning and after spawning, it returns to the original feeding grounds
• International Union of Conservation of Natural Resources (IUCN) has declared it endangered.

By: Vishal