Artificial propagation programme of Golden Mahseer fish

Himachal Pradesh fisheries department in the third week of May 2016 launched an artificial propagation programme for rehabilitation and conservation of Golden Mahseer fish. A hatchery with an outlay of 6 crore rupees has been set up at Machhial near Joginder Nagar town in Mandi district to rear the mahseer. The hatchery-reared juveniles would be released into the rivers and reservoirs. The brooder fish reared in the hatchery was collected from the local rivers and streams. Declining population of Golden Mahseer • Studies conducted by the fisheries department stated that the population of the golden mahseer is declining. • The population of the fish is declining due to various reasons including construction of dams, barrages, pollution, indiscriminate fishing of brood and juvenile fish, introduction of exotic species and habitat deterioration. • Golden mahseer has been declared endangered by the Washington-based International Union of Conservation of Natural Resources. About Golden Mahseer • Golden mahseer is an endangered species of cyprinid fish that is found in rapid streams, riverine pools and lakes in the Himalayan region and south Asia. • It is a popular gamefish, the largest species of mahseer, and can reach up to 2.75 m in length and 54 kg in weight. • It is also known as the tiger of Indian rivers. • The fish is threatened by habitat loss, habitat degradation and overfishing, and it is estimated that it already has declined by more than 50%. • The Indian Golden Mahseer is distinguished from its cousins in the Mahseer family by its long snout, slender and long body. Its caudal, pelvic and anal fins show tint of reddish golden colour, while the body above its lateral line is generally golden in colour in adult fishes.