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PWD minister, Tongpand Ozukum, inaugurating the Chocolate Mahseer hatchery project at Suteplenden in Longkong village under Mokokchung district on April 25.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, April 25 (EMN): A first of its kind, a hatchery for state fish ‘Chocolate Mahseer’ was inaugurated by minister Tongpong Ozukum in Longkong village, some 15 kilometres away from Mokokchung town, on April 25.
The Chocolate Mahseer Hatchery located at Suteplenden in Longkong village was sponsored and technically supported by ICAR-Directorate of Cold Water Fisheries Research, Uttarakhand, with an estimated cost of INR 15 lakhs and implemented by state department of fisheries.
Presently, the newly inaugurated hatchery can breed 50000 Mahseer fishes and has the potential of upgrading to one lakh in the coming years, said an ICAR official. Chocolate Mahseer commonly known as the “Tiger of the river” is considered as a delicacy as well as sports fish for anglers around the world. The exotic species is commonly found in Nagaland and Northeast-Eastern Himalayas. However, their numbers have dwindled considerably due to illegal use of poisons, electrocution and dynamites.
Taking the threat into consideration, the hatchery was established to breed the Mahseer fishes and then release them in various rivers.
Speaking at the programme, Tongpang Ozukum has lauded the initiative of ICAR-DCFR and state department of fisheries, which according to him would go a long way in preserving Mahseer fish in Nagaland. He urged both the agencies to install more of such hatchery in other parts of the state.
He also urged the department of fisheries to be more vigorous in creating public awareness about the importance of the fish and conserve them.
“Give them adequate knowledge about feeding and breeding, train and educate the people so that they become aware and more responsible in preserving the state fish of Nagaland,” the minister urged.
He also expressed hope that the project would function as intended and be beneficial for the people. “I want to see this project become bigger and the visit of top officials from ICAR bear fruit,” Ozukum said.
Guest of honour Dr Sudir Raizada ADG (Inland fy.) ICAR, New Delhi, urged that the endanger species Mahseer fish should not be made into the endangered species list again. Dr. Raizada hoped that with the favourable climate condition in the state and the exotic place of the hatchery would attract many anglers for sports activities.
He further informed that the central government has launched a ‘Blue Umbrella’ scheme for providing infrastructure development for the restoration of fishes, marketing, processing fish for value addition. Stating that under this scheme, the government provides 80 percent subsidy for Northeast states and 50 percent subsidy for other states, he urged that state government to take advantage of the scheme.
