Shimla, 22 September (IANS) One first, Himachal Pradesh Fisheries Department has left a record 87,000 Golden Masser fingering in captivity, a popular freshwater game and food fish, in a farm, and 34,500 in nature, which is said by Fisheries’ director-Wordon on Monday.
Fingulling was picked up at Machahal Masser Farm, which was established in 2016.
Since then, its annual production had never exceeded 5,000.
Out of 87,000 Licked Fingerlings, 20,000 were stocked in the Pong Dam reservoir and 14,500 in the Gobind Sagar reservoir.
Golden Masser’s population, being a sports fish, is declining in the state due to various reasons, including the construction of dams, barrage, pollution, broods and teenage fish indiscriminate fishing, introduction of foreign species and decline of habitat.
After releasing the finger in nature, the fisheries department says its population will prosper.
The department has been awarded the prestigious Scotch Gold Award – 2025, with leading efforts under the protection of severely endangered Golden Mahaseer through the captive breeding program. The award was presented at a function in New Delhi on 20 September.
Golden Mahasir is the state fish of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
In the last decades, the Golden Mahaseer’s population has dangerously declined.
Himachal Pradesh Fisheries Department launched a major scientific -supported captive breeding program, E. In 2023, a special campaign was launched to increase its production in collaboration with ICAR-CERTRAL INLAND FISARIES Reseries Reseanchinge Institint (CIFRI) at BHIMTAL in Uttarakhand, the only cold water fisheries research institute in the country.
Along with the nodal officer, Jhandel visited the ICAR-Cifri Bhimtal to identify deficiencies. Implementation of reforms produced remarkable results. In 2024–25, the department’s farm in Machil produced 87,000 fingerlings.
Now, the state government is planning to raise its finger in the newly established fish farm in Sunni in Shimla district. This step will not only reduce immediate hazards for species in the wild, but will also provide a stable and reliable source for long -term revival efforts.
Golden Mahaser plays an important role in maintaining the balance of species in the aquatic ecosystem. It is also a high -demanded species among angles. In 2024–25, more than 3,700 Anglers visited Himachal Pradesh, which contributed to the environmental-penetration. The species is found in parts of cold water of Beas, Sutlej, and their tributaries, as well as in reservoirs such as Pong, Gobind Sagar and Kol Dams. Fish also has high nutritional value and significantly supports fishermen’s livelihood in the reservoirs of the state.
Chandel said that with the successful results of the conservation program, the department expects the production of fingers to cross the mark of one lakh this year. He said that the production of fish, which was 17,025.97 MT in 2022-23, increased to 19,019.83 MT in 2024-25. Similarly, the reservoir fish production increased from 549.35 MT to 748.76 MT in 2022-23 to 748.76 MT in 2024-25.
The longest living freshwater fish, Maheer, mountains and natives of sub-regions are natives. This tor is related to genus. The Pong Dam reservoir, about 250 km from the state capital Shimla and 190 km from Chandigarh, supports the sufficient population of Golden Masser.
(Vishal Gulati can be contacted on vishal.g@ians.in)
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GG/VD