Fish farming: Plan to increase Mangla fish output underway

MIRPUR: Azad Jammu and Kashmir government plans to breed fish in the huge reservoir of Mangla Dam.

Ramzan Advocate, Honorary Game Warden of Fisheries and Wildlife Department has already chalked out an integrated plan to meet the increased local demand for fish in Mirpur and other parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) under the private-public partnership joint ventures.

He said that since the output of fish from Mangla Dam could be raised from 1,800 to 2,000 metric ton per annum, the government was seriously contemplating implementing the plan. The annual target of launching at least 500,000 fish of the highly expensive Mohri and Rahoo breed in Jarri Kass, Mangla,Khud, Poonch and Kansi pockets of Mangla Dam’s reservoir was being achieved. He revealed that fishing by amateur fishermen at Poonch and Jhelum rivers has been prohibited at the site Billi Porian near Palak in the outskirts of the district.

Ramzan said that his organization would encourage fish production in the dam besides ensuring the protection of existing fish during breeding season. He opined that the plan will provide fish to meet demand in Mirpur and the rest of AJK. Dutt said fish breeding in Mangla Dam’s reservoir was yielding healthy and positive results within the stipulated timeframe.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2010.