In order to encourage fish production, the AJK government on Thursday kicked off a plan to raise its production in the Mangla Dam up to at least 4000 metric tons annually, said Ramzan Dutt Advocate, Honorary Game Warden of Fisheries & Wild Life Department here.
Dutt told reporters that the AJK government has already chalked out an integrated plan to meet the increased local demand of fish in Mirpur and other parts of AJK under the private-public partnership. The plan included the phase wise launching of superior races fish breed in Mangla Dam this year and also aimed at to ensure the supply of fish to the local consumers at economical rates, he added.
Ramzan Dutt who is also President of AJK Anglers Association, said that it was necessary to avoid fishing during the ongoing breeding season. By taking these steps, the fish production in dam could be raised from 1800 to 2000 metric tons per annum. He said that the annual target of launching at least 500,000 of the fish breed of highly expensive `Mohri' and `Rahoo' fish in Jarri Kass, Mangla, Khud, Poonch and Kansi pockets of Mangla Dam's reservoir has so far been fixed.
The plan also includes the proposed launching of the top seed of `Mahasheir', `Theil' and `China' in the dam. He said that fishing by the amateur fishermen at Poonch and Jhelum rivers, falling in the dam, has been prohibited.
Ramzan Dutt said that fish would be available soon after its supply to the open market. The valuable breed of `Poong' fish will also be launched in the dam soon. The fish breeding in Mangla Dam's reservoir is yielding healthy and positive results within the stipulated time frame.