Mahseer fish

• Himachal Pradesh government has started an artificial propagation programme for rehabilitation and conservation of golden mahseer.
• The population of the golden mahseer, hunted for sport and food, is declining in rivers of Himachal Pradesh.
• A hatchery with an outlay of Rs 6 crore has been set up in the state to rear mahseer, to breed the fish and release its fingerlings into the wild.
• The Pong Dam reservoir supports an ample population of the golden mahseer in Himachal

National Programme to protect Mahseer Fish

• In 2015 , a nationwide programme focused at the conservation of mahseer, was launched.
• It is aimed at spreading awareness about the mighty fish, which weighs up to 26 kg and grows up to nine feet.
• The programme has a three-pronged approach – to educate, engage and empower people.
• Interactive activities, such as a gaming app and Mahseer Conservation Day comprises the ‘engage’ stage.

Why decline in polulation:

• There are biological factors – as the fish has a substantially long hatching period.
• There is construction of dams, barrages, pollution, indiscriminate fishing of brood and juvenile fish, introduction of exotic species and habitat deterioration rampant on the name of development, which is hampering the growth of mahseer fish.
• Besides, its migration routes are blocked by various human interference including construction activities on the river.

About Mahseer Fish

• Golden mahseer is known as the tiger of Indian rivers.
• It has been declared endangered by the Washington-based International Union of Conservation of Natural Resources.
• The mahseer, the longest-living freshwater fish, is native to mountain and sub-mountain regions. It belongs to the genus Tor.
• It migrates upstream for spawning during the southwest floods. After spawning, it returns to the original feeding grounds. It is available at altitudes of up to 2,000 metres above sea level and is purely carnivorous.

By: Vishal