Growth of the Chocolate Mahseer, the state’s mascot

Dimapur, Dec. 12 (EMN): Chocolate Mahseer, scientific name Neolissochilus hexagonolepis, is a popular game for fishing and a high-value fish food found only in the hill streams of the north-eastern Himalayan region including Nagaland. The fish is considered threatened and an endangered species although it is found in all the major rivers of Nagaland namely Doyang, Tizu, Dikhu, Milak, Zunki, Lanyi, Tsurang, Intangki, and Dzu-u etc.

The government publicity agency, the department of Information and Public Relations (IPR) gave updates on Thursday informing about the developments in rearing the fish in Nagaland.

Like many other endemic fish species, the population have severely decline due to habitat loss and over exploitation. The National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) at Lucknow suggested adoption and recognition of the fish as “state fish” on the lines of the national bird or animal to achieve species-specific real time conservation success.

During December 2007, the state adopted the Chocolate Mahseer, as the state fish of Nagaland, on the approval of the government of Nagaland.

The recognition of this fish species is attributed to its wide distribution in the state, its economic value and conservation significances. It was envisaged that attribution of importance to this fish will create opportunities to study the habitat, reproduction, propagation and culture of this fish which in turn will promote developing strategies for conservation of our indigenous fish stock, support fisheries based-eco tourism and also diversify economic activities in the fisheries sector.

Since the adoption of the fish as the state’s fish, the department of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources has made several attempts to propagate the fish, but failed, until the intervention of the ICAR-directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-DCFR), in Uttarakand.

During 2017, the premier research institute had financially and technically supported the department to establish a Mahseer hatchery unit and a brood bank in Mokokchung district which was inaugurated on April 25 2018 by the then minister for Road and Bridges, Tongpang Ozukum.

The IPR mentioned that officials led by Deputy Director Neitho-o Kuotsu, senior scientist at ICAR-DCFR Dr. RS Haldar, Mokokchung DFO Imtisunep, conservationist Imnatoshi, and Fishery Extension Officer Khriezhato Nakhro made considerable efforts toward achieving the objective of the project.

The commendable accomplishment by the team was realised through the release of indigenously bred and reared Chocolate Mahseer fingerlings for the first time in Northeast India into the Doyang reservoir in Wokha district on December 5 2019 by the department, the IPR stated.

The project has achieved its primary objective ie., the importance of stock enhancement of fish to restore our already depleted endemic fish population, the IPR stated.