Home / Environment / Goa Revives Native Fish Stocks at Nanda Lake
Goa Revives Native Fish Stocks at Nanda Lake
26 Aug
Summary
- Native fish are bred and released into wild habitats to strengthen populations.
- The initiative aims to conserve indigenous species, not commercial ones.
- A dedicated hatchery is planned to scale up breeding activities.
At Goa's Nanda lake, the ICAR-CCARI is spearheading an initiative to revive indigenous fish populations. This program, known as fish ranching, involves breeding native fish species in controlled environments and then releasing them into natural water bodies to enhance wild stocks.
The institute selects indigenous fish for breeding using pond-based or induced techniques. The young fish are nurtured at the institute's facilities before being reintroduced into suitable natural habitats, prioritizing conservation of local species over commercially popular ones.
Scientist Trivesh Mayekar highlighted the project's goal of rebuilding populations of local species. While fish ranching is practiced elsewhere in India, Goa's approach specifically targets indigenous species. Future plans include establishing a dedicated hatchery to increase the scale of breeding and ranching activities.
The Nanda lake initiative also sheds light on the growing issue of invasive fish species, which threaten native fish by competing for resources and disrupting aquatic ecosystems. Research is ongoing to understand these impacts.
