Munish Sood
MANDI: In a move aimed at promoting angling tourism and improving the local fishing economy, the Himachal Pradesh Fisheries Department has released 12,000 Mahseer fish seeds into the Gobind Sagar reservoir in Bilaspur district.
These fish seeds were produced at the state’s only Mahseer Fish Breeding Centre in Madhyal, Mandi district, which successfully bred more than 50,000 fingerlings this year. The seed release programme was held at Jakatkhana under the supervision of Director-cum-Incharge of Fisheries, Vivek Chandel.
Mahseer, one of the most valuable freshwater fish species, plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of mountain rivers and reservoirs in Himachal Pradesh. Known for its size, strength and appeal among anglers, the fish also supports local biodiversity and livelihoods.
Assistant Director of Fisheries, Pankaj Thakur, said that conserving and breeding Mahseer is a major priority for the department. “Mahseer is not only important for the ecosystem but also helps in increasing the income of fishermen,” he said. He added that last year, 13,520 Mahseer seeds were released into the Gobind Sagar reservoir from the Machhyal Fish Farm, showing the department’s ongoing commitment to fish conservation.
Thakur further explained that the Fisheries Department regularly carries out fish seed stocking in all major reservoirs to improve fish production and support the fishing community. “This initiative will give a strong push to angling tourism in Gobind Sagar and open new opportunities for local fishermen,” he noted.
The event was attended by Fish Conservation Officer Ajay Kumar, Jakatkhana Fisheries Officer Suram Singh, representatives of fisheries cooperative societies and several local fishermen.
The department aims to strengthen the economic condition of fishermen through increased fish production while ensuring sustainable management of aquatic resources across the state.
