Ranching of seed of Indian Major Carp like Catla, Rohu, Marigal in river Ganga and awareness program on sustainable fisheries was organized by Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Allahabad under NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga) project to restore and conserve the depleting fish stock of river Ganga on 11th November 2017 at Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. During this program ranching of 5000 nos of advanced fingerling of IMCs was done in River Ganga at Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi. While welcoming the participants in the program, Dr. R. S. Shrivastava, Head of division, Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Allahabad explained about the deteriorated environmental condition of river Ganga and its adverse impact on fish biodiversity affecting the livelihood of fishers’ community. The issues that made the fish species to threatened, endangered and extinct in river Ganga and the reason behind the dominance of exotic fish species like Talipia were explained. Dr. Shrivastava also focused on the issues like construction of barrages, habitat modification, effluent discharge, deforestation in catchment area as well as growth and breeding behavior of fishes of river Gnaga. He expressed his concern about recruitment over fishing of broodstock during breeding season and growth over fishing of fish juveniles during raining season hampering riverine fish biodiversity and finally affecting the livelihood of associated fishers’ community. The abstraction of water from river Ganga has not only affected the fish breeding but also had an adverse impact on migratory fishes. The pollution in river Ganga has been discussed as an important factor affecting the availability of fishes. Dr. D.N. Jha, Scientist has coordinated the program and appraised the gathering about the importance of river ranching program. He informed the audience that the ranching program is an important component of the approved Namami Gange project aiming at increasing the density of population of depleting fish stock of river Ganga. He explained the detailed future plan of ranching in freshwater stretch of river Ganga, from Uttar Kashi to Dakhineswar. Important guests from different organizations like, Banaras Hindu University, UP College, Kashi Vidya Peeth, Fisheries Dept., Uttar Pradesh and eminent retired scientists of CIFRI were present in this occasion. Students and local fishers’ community came in large numbers to attend the program. Dignitaries like Dr. B. K. Singh (CIFRI), Mr. B. N. Singh (AFD, Govt. of UP), Dr. Rakesh Singh (BHU, Varanasi) have shared their experiences, opinion and advice regarding restoration of fisheries of river Ganga. The local organization like BHU offered enthusiastic support to CIFRI for organizing such program as and when planned in future in and around of Varanasi. The local print media was present to give necessary coverage of the program. The dignitaries have overwhelmingly praised efforts of NMCG team of CIFRI, Allahabad for restoration of prized IMC fishery of river Ganga.
Facilities
Others
External links
