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Fisheries Department in Sikkim Was established at the fag end of
Fifth Five Year Plan. Since then, the department initiated various
projects for effective utilisation and management of the available
water resources for fish production in order to move towards
fulfilling the protein requirement/gap in the diet of the
Sikkimese population.
Resource Background:
Sikkim has two major rivers, Teesta and Rangeet, with a total
length of 900 km. These rivers originate from the glaciers of
North and West Sikkim. Along with myriads of tributaries, the
rivers harbour a di verse and rich fish fauna. The most important
of these are the Snow Trout (Schizothorax sp.) Mahaseer (Tor
putitora). Cat fishes (Glyptothorax spp., Bagarius sp.,
Pseudechencies sp.) and a number of Cyprinids e.g Garra spp.,
Barilius spp. etc. The total annual fish yield contributed by
Sikkim’s riverine fisheries is of the order of 150 t. About
1500-2000 villagers living close to the river banks are engaged in
part-time fishing. The cold water species are highly esteemed by
the local inhabitants. They fetch a good price. A kg is sold at a
cost of Rs. 50 to 60. This shows that Sikkim’s fishery wealth
serves as a source of additional income to the poor villagers.
Conservation:
The main thrust area of fisheries development of the State at
present is on “Conservation of the existing fishery wealth of the
state”.
In order to maintain the yield at a sustainable level and to
conserve some of the rare and endangered fish species of Sikkim
waters, it is prioritised to implement conservation measures
strictly. Enforcement of fishing law has been taken up by
employing field staff along the river bank where there is high
fishing pressure. The field staff are entrusted with the
responsibility to issue fishing licenses and check all types of
illegal fishing like poisoning dynamiting etc.
Mahaseer fishery:
The lower belt of the Teesta and toe Rangeet rivers harbour one of
the most popular game fish, Mahaseer (Tor putitora). But it is
very unfortunate to note that this precious game fish population
has already dwindled and the species is under the threat of
becoming rare. Fishery, has, however, now hopes of recovery with
the construction of an Experimental Mahaseer Breeding Farm at
Bagua by diversion of the course of river Rangeet in South Sikkim
at an elevation of 300 msl. The farm is for rearing of salvaged
Mahaseer fry, which will be stocked in the lower belt of the State
in order to save this fish from getting extinct.
Trout Fishery
Since the majority of the rivers and streams of Sikkim originate
from glaciers and are snow fed, about two third of the river
length along with a number of high altitude lakes fall above 6000'
msl and are virgin due to the absence of indigenous fish fauna.
The Fisheries Department has already established a Brown Trout (Salmo
fario) hatchery at Menmoitso at an elevation of 12000 msl. in East
Sikkim. The Hatchery is operational since 1979 and is producing 2
to 3 lakhs of trout fry every year. Trout is the only cold water
species that can thrive well in these waters. The seeds produced
at the hatchery are transported and stocked in all the high
altitude lakes and streams so as to enrich the waters of the State
with this exotic game fish for popularizing sport fishery, which
is beneficial to both the local inhabitants and the Government
through revenue.
Culture Fishery
The temperate and the sub-tropical regions of the State within an
elevation range of 300-600 msl. is very conducive for warm water
fish culture. Because of its location in the wettest part of the
Himalayas. Sikkim receives beautiful monsoon rains from May till
October. As a result, besides marshy lands, the paddy fields
remain heavily inundated with water for more than 3 to 4 months a
year. The small rivulets swell up and attain higher discharge.
In order to make the best use of these water bodies, three major
culture fishery systems have been introduced by the State
fisheries department. These are of 1. Common Carps; 2. Indian
Major Carps and 3. Chinese Carps.
The fisheries department has already established a number of Fish
Seed Production cum Demonstration Farms at various places like
Soreng, Geyzing, Rorathang, Rangpo. etc. The annual production of
fish seed in the state is estimated to be one million.
The inception of an FFDA set-up in the State in the year 1991-92.
has created the climate to provide encouragement to villagers to
take up fish farming on their own. FFDAs have generated employment
and additional income and set the state on the path of State
self-reliance in food production. The Agency has already provided
subsidy to 1300 families link with bank loan for adopting fish
culture till 2000-2001. The villagers selected are given loans and
imparted training on Fish Farm Management/Fish Culture by fishery
personnel and they are also supplied with fish seed at a
reasonably low cost for taking up commercial fish culture.
Research Activities
A rapid development within short span on forestry, roads and
bridges have resulted in habitat loss leading in turn to the loss
of biodiversity and several other problems. Before formulating
appropriate exploitation and utilization measures, it has become
necessary to assess the overall potentialities of the available
water resources of the State. Accordingly, a pilot research
project, on fish fauna assessment of Sikkim water has been
undertaken by fisheries department involving an exhaustive survey
of the Teesta and the Rangeet rivers and their major tributaries.
The research results would bring out a detailed picture of the
capture fishery potential in existing water resources including
resource potentials at various gradients.
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