Kaghan Valley's trout industry on the brink

Unidentified disease affecting trout remains undiagnosed for years, resulting in mass fish deaths

BALAKOT:

The once-profitable trout fish farming industry in Bhunja — a hub of natural beauty and cold-water resources in the Kaghan Valley — has plunged into a severe crisis due to prolonged  government and Fisheries Department neglect.

Devastating floods over the past two years not only damaged general infrastructure but also destroyed water channels and ponds at dozens of fish farms. To date, no official financial assistance has been provided for their restoration.

Compounding the crisis, an unidentified disease affecting trout has remained undiagnosed for several years, resulting in mass fish deaths and heavy financial losses for farmers.

Most fish farms in Bhunja were originally established under government ADP schemes. However, local farmers report that despite the presence of a government hatchery at Shino Jared, trout seed remains unavailable.

As a result, farmers are forced to procure seed from Gilgit-Baltistan and Swat, where it is sold at much higher prices. Added to this are steep transportation costs and losses caused by seed mortality en route, amounting to losses of hundreds of thousands of rupees.

In many areas of Bhunja, flood-damaged water channels have yet to be repaired, disrupting water supply, while fish ponds remain in a state of disrepair. This has made trout breeding increasingly unviable.

Facing mounting losses and sunk investments, several farmers have already exited the business, dealing a serious blow to the local economy.