BALURGHAT, July 15 -- The Fisheries department is set to resume the release of fish seed in the Atreyee, Punarbhaba and Tangon rivers of South Dinajpur after a gap of two years, aiming to revive dwindling fish populations and support the livelihoods of local fishermen.
According to district administration sources, fish seed could not be released in the rivers over the past two years due to the absence of government funding. Following the change in the state government, the Fisheries department has initiated preparations to restart the programme at the earliest.
The initiative is expected to provide a boost to riverine fisheries, which have been facing a steady decline in recent years.
Officials said fingerlings of Indian major carps, including rohu, catla and mrigal, will be released at Sadar Ghat on the Atreyee River in Balurghat and Bazar Ghat on the Punarbhaba River in Gangarampur. Preparatory work for the restocking programme has already begun.
The district's river ecosystem has been under increasing pressure due to the widespread use of illegal fishing nets, particularly fine-mesh Chinese ring nets and mosquito nets. These prohibited nets trap even juvenile fish, preventing them from growing to maturity and leading to a sharp decline in native fish populations.
Fishermen and local residents have repeatedly expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of such nets, saying it has severely affected fish breeding and reduced catches in the rivers.
While the decision to release fish seed has been welcomed, questions remain over the effectiveness of the initiative unless strict action is taken against illegal fishing practices. Experts and local fishermen believe that without curbing the use of banned nets, a large number of the newly released fingerlings may also be caught before they can mature, limiting the long-term benefits of the government's effort.
The Fisheries department is expected to carry out the restocking programme in the coming days as part of its broader initiative to restore fish resources in the district's
major rivers.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.