Himalayan Coldwater Fisheries in India: Status, Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The exploitation of fishery resources in upland Himalayan regions mainly comes from capture fisheries. The fish production through culture practices is gaining momentum.  At present, the total fish production from upland areas is about 3 % of the total inland fish production of India, which is very meagre to the total fish production. The cold water fishes adapted to Indian climatic conditions to live between 5°to 20°temperature. The high-altitude upland water of mountains and the spring water at low altitude in temperate regions remain cooler than the rest of the water body, supporting cold water fishery. These water bodies, comprising several hill streams, rapids, pools, lakes, and reservoirs, are abundantly found in the Himalayan region and in the Deccan plateau region of peninsular India. The aquaculture production potential of the cold water sector has not been exploited to its fullest extent. As far as cold-water fisheries are concerned, very few hill states like Kashmir valley, Himachal Pradesh, and other mountain regions of India are underexplored. The hill states are endowed with natural lakes and reservoirs that could be better utilized under culture-based capture fisheries program. An overview is presented on the cold water resources of India with reference to the cultivation of viable species in the hill region of India.  Various initiatives have been taken to promote the cold water fishery by DCFR and various other government agencies, and entrepreneurs.