SHILLONG: The Department of Fisheries, Government of Meghalaya, in collaboration with the Directorate of Cold Water Fisheries Research (DCFR), Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, organized a rehabilitation and propagation of Golden Mahseer cum awareness campaign on Mahseer Ranching at Nongmahir Lake, Ri Bhoi District, on Tuesday.
Additional Chief Secretary K.S. Kropha attended the function as the chief guest in the presence of Principal Secretary, Fisheries Department, K.N. Kumar, Director, DCFR, Dr. A.K Singh, Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Pooja Pandey and Director, Fisheries department, I.R. Sangma, among others.
The main objective of the programme was to sensitize the people especially the fish farmers of the State on the threat that Mahseer population has been declining in number and size in natural water because of degradation of the aquatic environment and biological changes in the ecosystem and is in serious danger of extinction.
Speaking on the occasion, Kropha appreciated the initiative taken by the State Fisheries department jointly with the Directorate of Cold Water Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, to rehabilitate and propagate Mahseer through the ranching at Nongmahir Lake for breeding and preserving of the endangered species and hope that the initiative would eventually bear fruit.