UNA (HP):Fish basket is becoming heavier this year, as the fish production in the Govind
Sagar, a man-made reservoir on river Sutlej touched 500 metric tonnes during the
current year bringing income booster doze to 3963 fishermen, 2169 License
Holders belonging to 34 cooperatives societies of the Oustees families to ensure them
dignified livelihood.
It is stated that a total of over 2, 000 displaced families uprooted due to completion
of river valley project are engaged in fishing, carrying, transportation, packing of fish,
weaving and marketing, etc in the Govind Sagar Reservoir areas in Una and Bilaspur
Districts said Sh Virender Kanwar Minister for Fisheries here on Thursday.
The department has harvested 195.34 MT fish production up to October 2020 in
Govind Sagar reservoir compared to 164.35 MT fish production recorded during October
2019. The fish harvested in Govind Sagar has achieved a price at Rs. 126 per Kg during
summer while the fish price during winters has been recorded at Rs 182 per Kg during the
current season which will add around 8 crore rupees in the income of the fisherman in the
state during current year
He also disclosed that the per hectare fish production in the Gobind Sagar lake
during the year 2020-2021 was likely be achieved at 30 kg per hactare compared to 23.78
kg/ per hactare during 2019-2020.
Ranching, being the backbone of eye-catching reservoir fisheries development
was given the highest focus and 44, 30, 763 species having 70 mm and above legal-sized,
quality fingerlings of commercially important genetic carps Mainly IMC, Silver Carp, Grass
Carp and Common Carp fish species are being stocked in the reservoir under stock
enhancement strategy during the current year which will surely help to increase the income
of fishermen
A maiden trial for fishing in the reservoir was initiated in 1969 with the release of
Gravid spawners & fingerlings of IMC. Since then a regular stocking programme has been
undertaken. Stocking has been mainly of IMC, Silver Carp, Grass Carp and Common Carp
fish species which are commercially important and attract great demand in the
market.Regularly fish seed has been stocked in Gobind Sagar reservoir.
The state fisheries department has taken various initiative to develop it as leading
fishing reservoirs in the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh. The department is
undertaking regular seed stocking of carp fish varieties, maintaining strict check on
illegal fishing all round the year, implementing various welfare schemes and dedication of
all working employees for their duties during the close season results in record fish
production The present achievement could be attributed to good reservoir management
practices which include conservation measures and regular fish seed stocking in Govind
Sagar reservoir and initiation of various welfare schemes for fishermen by the
department.said Sh Virender Kanwar Minister for Fisheries here today