An integrated plan has been chalked out for the promotion of fish breeding and angling under the spirit of uplift of tourism sector in Azad Jammu Kashmir with the coordination of the private sector, official sources said.
Sources told APP here on Tuesday that under an agreement recently signed between private sector fishing concern and the government, the company/contractor would be launching 2.2 million fish breeds in Mangla lake under a phased program during three year stipulated period.
The objective of the plan was not only to boost the fish production in the lake but also to extend maximum guidance and cooperation to the armature anglers in the wake of the already launched plan for the promotion of tourism sector in the liberated territory.
The plan, sources pointed out, would not only provide attractive opportunities of recreation to the tourists pouring in from within the country as well as from abroad but would also raise the fish production to greater extent for meeting the need of the people. At least 500,000 fish breeds (Poong) from the family of Theil, Silver, Moori and Rahoo were recently launched in the Mangla dam lake, the sources said.
Among the breeds 100,000 were contributed by the Azad Jammu Kashmir Anglers Association, whereas remaining 400,000 were provided by the private sector fishing company.
It may be added that the each fish breed will raise to two kilogram in weight during next one year and up to five KG in weight during next two and half years - which would be suitable for the general consumption.
Huge waters of the Mangal dam lake have the capacity to produce 70 metric tones of fish in a year. Only two metric tones of fish of popular breeds of Rahoo, Moori, Theil, Silver and Mahasheir are being presently caught from the lake every year.