Marine life: Small fry attendance for Fisheries Museum

It was opened for public in 2017 but visitors are few and far between

LAHORE ': In a bid to provide information to people about marine life, country’s first Fisheries Museum has been established in Lahore’s Manawan area, where fresh water fishes, insects and a variety of birds have been housed. However, not many people visit the facility due to lack of awareness.

The Punjab fisheries department has put on display facts regarding colourful, big and small fishes, insects and other species that are found in rivers in Pakistan. All the species have been kept in big and small glass jars.

While speaking to Express News, Fisheries Museum Director Dr Zafarullah said that 193 kinds of fish species are found in different rivers in Pakistan. “Of these species, 80 are on display while 18 insects have also been kept in the museum.”

He maintained the establishment of the museum is unique in a way as under water plants and tortoises have also been housed in it.

“The collection of information of such species took a long time after which it has been made part of the museum,” the museum director pointed out.

“Many of these fish and insect species are on the verge of extinction and the fisheries department is working hard to restore them,” he said.

He lamented the museum is open to public but due to lack of awareness people do not visit the site. “Only the students of colleges and universities visit on field trips,” he said.

Dr Zafarullah told Express News that more species of fish for the museum are being collected. “Aid from Pakistan Navy has been sought for the purpose while fishermen have also been asked to cooperate.”

He said, “We have instructed the fishermen that if they catch or come across unique specie of fish or bird, they should hand it over to the museum.”

He said that students conducting research on fresh water species have benefitted a great deal through the museum.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2018.