FISH STOCKING IN TARBELA DAM

FISH STOCKING IN TARBELA DAM HARIPUR AND AZAKHEL DAM PESHAWAR

Conservation, management and promotion of fisheries in public waters including rivers, streams and reservoirs except those in provincial and national control is the exclusive responsibility of Fisheries Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Freshwater fish stocking is one of the primary activity, in which the fresh waters are stocked with the hatchery bred fishes. The process of releasing young fish (fingerlings) into dams, weirs and rivers to enhance and maintain fisheries, maintain the aquatic ecosystem equilibrium, provide recreational and assist threatened fish species to recover. Dams alter river ecosystems and subsequently require development of new relationships between humankind and natural resources associated with these ecosystems. Thus stocking is necessary to maintain the fish fauna.

In this regard Fisheries Department organized fish stocking events at Tarbela Dam Haripur and Azakhel dam District Peshawar. For this purpose stocking committees comprising of District Govt; representative, Member from Anti-corruption Department, Deputy Director Fisheries H/Q, Assistant Director Fisheries concerned, and Assistant Director Fisheries CH & TC Peshawar was constituted. At Tarbela Dam, on 23.09.2016 the Fisheries Department stocked 2 Lac (0.2M) fish species of Rohu, Mori, Silver Carp, Grass Carp and Big Head Carp of about 1-2 inch size. Similarly at Azakhel Dam, on 30/09/2016 fifty thousand fish species of Rohu, Mori, Silver Carp and Grass Carp of about 2 inch sizes were stocked by the Stocking committee. Such events are also carried out in other districts fresh water dams and rivers for fish conservation, promotion of recreational fisheries and enhancement of departmental revenue.