Page 25 - Namami gange 31st edition-16 printing

series Arth Ganga

Fish Ranching and Arth Ganga

Daily Income Improves for Fishermen Community in River Ganga

Stock enhancement in open water overall fish production, especially Livelihood Assessment
resources is vital for conserving for major carp and Hilsa shad. A study was also conducted across
and uplifting declined fish fauna. The impact is more visible on the the lower, middle and upper stretch
It is crucial to harness sustainable indigenous fish fauna of the river, in 24 selected districts along the
direct and indirect benefits from like Indian Major Carp. Several river stretch. The results indicates
such ecosystems. Numerous stretches throughout the Ganga that the average monthly income of
biotic and abiotic stresses resulted Basin showed substantial decrease the fishermen were estimated to be
in the decline of Indian Major in Major Carp Landings due to Rs. 7283, Rs. 5866, and Rs. 4345 in
Carps (IMC) from river Ganga in anthropogenic activities. the river's lower, middle and upper
the past few decades. Therefore, stretches respectively. There has
replenishing indigenous fish stocks Impact of Ranching been a stark improvement in the
has become a prime concern. River Landing of Rohu, Catla and Mrigal daily income of fishermen in the
ranching through captive breeding during 2018-2022 has shown an middle stretch of the River Ganga.
techniques is undoubtedly adding increasing trend in Ganga despite Whereas, as per previous reports,
to the conservation of native fish a lower catch in 2021 due to the daily income was reported to be Rs.
species in Ganga. lockdown. The share of IMC in the 40.03 per day per fisherman in Bihar
total landing of fish catch showed and Uttar Pradesh stretches, now, it
The River Ranching Programme of an increasing trend during 2018- is observed that the income from
Indian Major Carps (IMC), namely 2022. It was about 8.50 % in the the middle stretch of the Ganga
Labeo rohita (Rohu), Labeo catla year 2018, which has increase to has increased by Rs. 155.97 over a
(Catla), Cirrhinus mrigala (Mrigala) 14.31% in 2022. The increase in decadal period. This has generated
and Labeo calbasu (Kalbasu) was the share of IMC and simultaneous more livelihood for the fishermen
initiated in different river stretches decrease in the share of exotic community in the Ganga Basin,
of Ganga. The fishes were bred fishes in the Prayagraj stretch of contributing to the cause of Arth
captive and raised to fingerling Ganga.
size (>15.0 cm). Fish fingerlings the Ganga river system reflects that
(>15.0 cm) were transported and the conservation attempt of IMC
acclimatized before ranching in through ranching activity helps in
river waters. More than 67.65 lakh the restoration of the fish species
fingerlings of Indian Major Carps in the Ganga River. The data was
have been released in 83 ranching also collected on the species landing
events from 2017 till now. The from the middle and lower stretch
approach has been the first-of-its- of river Ganga covering three states
kind towards raising native fish (Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal)
fauna in river Ganga and is showing to assess the seasonal patterns in fish
positive results. landings and catch per unit effort
(CPUE). The annual fish catch
status of Indian Major Carp landing ranged from 348.2 tonnes
Resources in River Ganga in East Burdwan (West Bengal) to
Previous studies have revealed that 6988.1tonnes in Patna (Bihar), and
ecological degradation of the river total catch from the middle and
Ganga caused by anthropogenic lower stretch of river Ganga was
activity and artificial hindrances estimated to be 43584.41 tonnes per
resulted in a noticeable decline in annum (2022-2023).

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