Month: August 2021

Gangtok, August 31: Shri Sangey D Bhutia, Secretary, AH & VS Department, Shri N Jaswant, Director of Fisheries along with other senior officials of the Directorate of Fisheries visited the Menmoitso Trout Farm, East Sikkim, today.

The newly connected electricity supply lines at the Menmoitso Trout Farm was inaugurated by Shri Sangey D Bhutia, Secretary, AH & VS Dept. On the occasion the Directorate also organized an awareness program on Riverine Fisheries Conservation which was participated by fish farmers, fishermen and stakeholders.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Sangey D Bhutia congratulated the officers and staff of the Directorate for the commendable work which has been done in the recent past. The electrification of the Menmoitso Trout Farm which has happened after 45 years of its establishment is one of a remarkable achievement of the Directorate duly considering various hurdles mainly being the lack of adequate budgetary provisions. Further, he also urged the general public including the fishermen and stakeholders to come forward and supportthe Directorate in the conservation of Riverine Fisheries Resources.Shri N Jaswant, Director, Directorate of Fisheries in his speech highlighted the importance of Riverine Fisheries conservation. He stated that the population of various fish species has been depleted drastically in the recent past due to various anthropogenic activities. Dr. Pushpa Tamang in the year 1993 had reported about 48 fish species in the drainages of Teesta & Rangeet River system of Sikkim. An independent study conducted by MoEF in the year 2002 had reported only 31 species. Further, as per a preliminary report of the ongoing study being conducted by the College of Fisheries, Lembucherra, Tripura only 21 species have been reported in Sikkim.

He also stated that among various reasons for decreasing population of indigenous fishes one is the introduction of cat fishes in our riverine system. It is being promoted by the religious practice of the local people called the Chettda whereby live fishes (mainly the cat fish) are released in the river. There are around five locations where the population of these cat fishes are observed to be maximum. The cat fishes feed upon the small frys and fingerling of the indigenous fishes thereby decreasing their population. Apart from that illegal fishing practices like the use of poison, electric fishing by use of batteries/UPS which wipe out entire generation of fishes has been contributing for the loss of aquatic biodiversity.

The Director also highlighted that the indiscriminate loss of aquatic biodiversity is going to have a grave repercussion. The fishermen community who are dependent on fishing for their livelihood will be directly affected due to reduced catch. It will also affect the ecology in some way or the other causing the breakdown of the ecosystem. Therefore, the need of riverine fisheries conservation is of outmost importance at this point of time.

The Director also made aware about the State Fisheries Policy which is being formulated by the Directorate of Fisheries for the first time in the history. He further stated that the policy shall focus on:

1. Fish (Flesh & Seed) Production: With the objective to increase the per capita fish consumption of the state from a mere 1.2 Kg per annum to the national average of around 10 Kg the Directorate shall strive for increasing the fish seed and flesh production by formulation and implementing various schemes and programmes.

2. Indigenous fish conservation: Breeding protocol of various indigenous fish species shall be developed and regular ranching of the seed produced shall be done to increase the population of indigenous fishes in the wild. Apart from that, conservation of the breeding and feeding ground of various fish species by providing highest level of protection through some notification or declaration of Fish sanctuary shall also be done.

(C S Rai)

Additional Director

Directorate of Fisheries

Government of Sikkim

Gangtok

Namchi, 31st August(IPR): A coordination meeting on celebration of Poshan Maah was chaired by ADC (South) Mr. Anant Jain at District Administrative Centre, today. Present amongst others were Child Development Project Officer’s of South District alongwith other Official’s.

Addressing the meeting ADC Mr. Jain spoke about the activities which can be included during the month long celebration of poshan maah. He spoke about the various kinds of events like handwashing and other competition which can be infused as a part of Poshan Maah.

The launch of Poshan Maah will be held tomorrow at the premises of DAC, Namchi. It maybe mentioned that this year a wide gamut of activities during the Poshan Maah will be observed and some of them will broadly focus on Plantation Drive by all the stakeholders in the space available at Anganwadis, School Premises, Gram Panchayats and other places. There will also be a special drive for Height and Weight Measurement for Children.

Poshan Maah is celebrated across the country in the month of September with the aim of community mobilization and creating awareness to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent Girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.