Sheikh Nadeem
A total of 13 Species of Fish is found in the Kashmir valley, out of which, 8 have gone extinct, The fisheries Department has said.
The department has raised serious concern over the issue and said that out of the five breeds to have survived, two more are under threat. “If we do not take steps to preserve them, they too will become extinct,” an official told The Kashmiriyat.
Meanwhile various experts in Kashmir have warned the fisheries department in this regard.
Syed Javid Hussain, an assistant professor in Kashmir said that over the past many years, they have been doing intensive research on the species of fish found in Kashmir. “Eight of the 13 Shizothorax (Kasher Gaid) species have become extinct very soon. Two of the five surviving species are in danger of extinction. Their numbers are decreasing very fast.”
When asked about the reasons, Javid said, “The Department does not follow the Fishing rules moreover, the people who have been granted fishing licenses by the fisheries department are not properly following the rules.”
The construction of dams has also impacted the fish in Kashmir, he said, adding, “Fish are not able to migrate due to the construction of dams.”