(Not) plenty of fish: Locals threaten agitation against privatisation of Trout hatchery

Say move will put an end to tourism in region, prove detrimental

MANSEHRA: Residents have threatened to resist the expected privatisation of Shinu Trout Hatchery in Balakot, saying they will not hesitate to take to the streets and block roads.

Speaking to the media on behalf of locals, Mansehra district council member Mushtaq Khan from Mahandri union council said the provincial government decided to privatise the trout hatchery of Jaraid, Balakot and sought an expression of interest from private investors last week. He said the process was likely to be completed within the next few days and would deprive tourists of their “rights” to fish the most delectable and prized catch. Mushtaq said privatisation of the hatchery would adversely impact tourism in the region as private owners would use the catch for commercial purposes.



According to the district council member, the chief secretary was interested in giving possession of the trout hatchery to his brother who was already running two similar facilities in Kaghan valley.

Mushtaq said the hatchery was the main source of feeding Kunhar River with trout fingerlings for their growth. He added the process has been going on since 1921 and the government earned hundreds of thousands of rupees from issuing fishing licences.

Domino effect

He added privatisation would not only put an end to the sport of fishing, but have an adverse effect on tourism. According to Mushtaq, the clean and serene environment of Kaghan Valley attracted tourists for trout fishing.

He said thousands in the area were fully dependent on tourism, and privatisation of one of the main components would signal an end to the industry.

The district council member said he wrote to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and asked for an intervention. However, the government failed to reverse its decision. He said locals would not only take to the streets and block Kaghan Road for an indefinite period, but also approach the court.

The brown and rainbow trouts are found in glaciers fed with cold and blue water of Kunhar River. The catch is considered to be among the best in the Subcontinent.

According to an official at Shinu Trout Hatchery, the farm has 810 employees to hatch rainbow trout from 14 ponds. The hatchery produces 200,000 to 250,000 fingerlings or seeds which are dropped in Kunhar River for natural breeding annually, while 1,000 kilogrammes of trout is sold from the farm through the year.

For sport, the fisheries department issues 1,400 to 2,000 licences to tourists and each one could catch two kilogrammes on a daily basis against a licence fee of Rs100.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2016.