CIFRI Awards
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) in association with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH organized a stakeholder meeting on 19 February, 2021 in virtual mode for the sustainable management of fisheries in Pong reservoir under the project “Assessment and Management of Fisheries Resources of Pong reservoir, Himachal Pradesh”. The main objective of the meeting was to involve all the stakeholders of Pong reservoir in formulating policy for sustainable fisheries resource extraction from the reservoir. Dr. B.K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI and PI of the project while inaugurating the Meet, invited all the stakeholders to participate in holistic development of fisheries and overall resource extraction of this reservoir where involvement of DoF, HP, Wildlife, Tourism, Anglers and FCS members of 15 Cooperative Societies functioning in this reservoir are necessary. Dr. Das presented the research findings before the august stakeholders and the draft recommendations for sustainable extraction of fisheries resources of Pong reservoir. Dr. Kunal Bharat from GIZ gave his comments and suggestions for the improvement of the draft recommendation. Mr. Satpal Mehta, Director-cum-Warden of Fisheries, HP also addressed the meeting and gave his valuable comments and suggestions on various issues for the development of Pong reservoir. During interactions, Director, HP raised issue that though 300 number fingerlings have been stocking in the reservoir but these are not getting reflected in the overall production. Dr. Das while replying to his question that as Pong is a cat fish reservoir, stocking of advanced fingerlings to the size group of 50-100 g is necessary to overcome pray-predator relationship and the desired stocking materials could be produced in situ following CIFRI technologies - enclosure culture like pen or floating pen in the bays and coves installing in this reservoir. Replying to development of eco-tourism facilities and intervention of migratory birds in overall production function of this fragile ecosystem, Dr Das assured the house to put forth the valuable inputs in the final draft. He also commented on use of proper meshed gill nets with multifilament nets to be used which is, in most occasions are lacking in this reservoir, which should be viewed seriously so as to have optimum catch per unit effort (CPUE). Officials of Department of Fisheries, HP engaged in Pong reservoir were actively participated in the meeting with need-based inputs. Representatives from 15 Fishermen Cooperative Societies took active part and got them involved in the discussion session of the meeting sharing their experiences. During the meeting, important issues flagged were impact of tourism on fish production, impact of migratory birds on fish production, stocking and harvesting policy were discussed. All the suggestions and inputs were well taken-off to be incorporated in the draft document. Even, the DoF, HP also requested to kindly provide valuable inputs which they feel most necessary so as to incorporate them in the final draft. The meeting was coordinated by Dr. U. K. Sarkar, HoD, RWF Division, Dr. A. K. Das, PS & In-charge, Training & Extension Unit and Dr. Lianthuamluaia, Scientist and the team GIZ from CIFRI.
