Sikkim Govt Organizes ‘Responsible Angling’ Awareness Event, Ranches 500 Chocolate Mahseer in River Rangeet

Namchi: The Directorate of Fisheries, under the Department of Agriculture and Animal Husbandary, Government of Sikkim, organises an awareness programme on 'responsible angling', at River Rangeet, below Mahseer Seed Rearing in Baguwa ward, Sorok-Syampani GPU, Namchi District. During the awareness event, the Minister of UDD and F&CS, Bhojraj Rai, participates in the ranching of 500 numbers of Sikkim’s state fish, Chocolate Mahseer, in river Rangeet. The ranching marks the celebration of 50 years of statehood of Sikkim. The ranching of the fish is done in the presence of the Minister of A&HD, Puran Gurung, and Advisor of the Directorate of Fisheries, NB Pradhan, Secretary, Roshni Rai, Director, Joint Director and Additional Directors and staffs of the Directorate of Fisheries of the Government of Sikkim, from all the districts. Preceeding the ranching and awareness programme, a competition of 'angling' on different categories is organized in Baguwa, in Rangeet, by the Directorate of Fisheries, GoS. A total of 40 anglers from Sikkim and North Bengal participate in the competition, in the early morning. The angling competition was also carried out yesterday with the same participants. The awareness on angling is necessary for the preservation of fish in their natural habitat, and conservation of fish for continued league of fishing in the hills. The awareness programme includes the exhibition of the legal and illegal fishing gears in the Himalayan region. The main objective of angling is to catch the fish for sports and leisure, and release the fish back to the water. Ugen Tsheten Bhutia, AD, Directorate of Fisheries, Gyalshing District shares, over pollution, illegal quarry activities, and global warming are the main reasons for the declining rate of fishes from the rivers in the Hills. During the event, the representative of the Fresh Water Angling Association of Sikkim take over the discussion on the declining rate of fish species in Sikkim. From a total of 48 indigenous fish species of Sikkim, they are declining alarmingly, and has reached 24 species, within last 34 years (sine 1991), they share. The alarming rate of decline of copper mahseer, golden mahseer, garela (endemic species), has more affects than just the global warming. Rangeet river has more varieties of fishes in Sikkim than Teesta. Amongst the offenses in fisheries, the cognizable offenses includes, usage of chemical and poisoning, electric fishing, and usage of excavator inside rivers. The policies of dam construction in Teesta and Rangeet too, donot lay fish ladder, and lacking the required norms of 60 per cent discharge of water from beneath the dams, has led to the ecological imbalance. Monitoring on discharge of chemicals in rivers from industries, and usage of excavator inside rivers in Melli and Yangang regions, are not being maintained as well. Currently, no fish is above 2-3 kilograms, as compared to 20-30 kilograms of fishes that could be found a decade before. Almost four species of fish cannot be found anymore. Out of 48, only 24 species of fish can be found in the current researches. And the state fish of Copper mahseer is already endangered. The Directorate of Fisheries, are conserving the river ecosystem in Dikchu region, successfully. And the people too are working in their own capability. "But what is not happening is, they are not working collectively," Nawang Lama, representative of Fresh Water Angling Association shares. On a different note of ecological imbalance, the awareness event also incorporated, Nasha Mukta Sikkim, Anti tobacco, and awareness on mental health and suicidal tendencies, and Swaccha Bharat Abhiyan. Minister Bhojraj Rai, UDD and Food and Civil Supplies, in his addressal shares that the newer generation should be more aware on the conservation of ecological balance. And shares that the imbalance is caused by human carelessness. He further suggested that students can easily find employment in fisheries by choosing to study the subject. He also shares that fisheries can attract tourists for angling and viewing fish. And maintained that the dam construction and hydro power project of Sikkim has deteriorated water availabiity in Teesta and Rangeet. Secretary, Directorate of Fisheries, Roshni Rai, shares that this awareness programme is a first step of the government towards conservation of fish and aquatic life in Sikkim. And the Directorate has organized it with the support of Fresh Water Angling Association of Sikkim, Nasha Mukta Sikkim and Social Welfare Department, and Swaccha Bharat Abhiyan. She shares that the government is hopeful for meaningful and dynamic approach towards the conservation of fish and aquatic life in Sikkim hills.