Menu Toggle
More
Close

DEPERTMENT OF FISHERIES

INTRODUCTION

Role of fisheries in the livelihood of the people particularly of Lohit district and the people of Arunachal Pradesh as a whole is very important. Fish is a protein rich food which supplements the cereals diets. It is estimated that 95% of the total population of Arunachal are non-vegetarian. Consumption of fish is relatively high in the state.Despite being an easily digestible protective food, enjoying the patronage of all sections of society, fish is not contributing to the extent as it is mainly due to the gap between demand and supply

Lohit District is blessed with vast natural resources for development of capture fisheries, 997 hectares of water area in the forms of rivers, beels, lakes, Swamps with varieties of food value and ornamental fishes and cultural fisheries, 1400 hectares of water area in the forms of suitable wet land and marshy land for development of fish farms/ponds/tanks.

In order to tap these resources, the Department of Fisheries is making constant effort by providing various schemes like Mukhya Mantri Neel Kranti Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Atma Nirbhar Matsya Palan Yojana(Credit Link)etc are being implemented to boost up fish production.And to ensure its availability on demand and to eradicate un-employment as well as upliftment of poorer sections of the society. With the initiation of various Departmental and allied schemes, the scientific fish culture in Lohit District has gained momentum amongst the local people who are coming forward to take up the more schemes as a source of their livelihood, income and self employment.

The plains and climate of this District also added to viability of fish culture but the fund allocation in comparison to the scope of development is too meager and so also the manpower for proper supervision/monitoring of different schemes involving technical know-how.

However, apart from all these problems, the department of fisheries, Lohit District, Tezu executed all the approved schemes successfully with physical and financial achievement and even over shooting the physical targets in some cases.

Culture Practices in Lohit District

Composite Fish Farming

The main aim of fish culture is to achieve the highest possible fish production from ponds and water resources. The techniques of fish cultivation involve both management of soil, water and husbandry of fish. Two criteria, less consumption of water by fish and high fecundity, go very much in favour of fish cultivation. Fish provide high quality food rich in protein, vitamins and other nutrients necessary for human health and growth.

The scientific based technology of composite fish culture aims at maximum utilization of the pond’s productivity. Fast growing, non-predatory, non-compatible species of food fishes are cultured together with complementary feeding habits and capable of utilizing both the natural and supplementary fish food.

Integrated fish farming

The land-holding of rural people are small and fragmented, and the modern large scale production technologies with high input requirements offer no tangible solution to their problems of low income and low productivity. These small and marginal farmers have livestock in the form of cattle, pigs, a small flock of ducks or chicks, agricultural land and surplus family labour.

  • Paddy Cum Fish Culture
  • Duck Cum Fish Culture
  • Horticulture cum fish culture

Renovation of existing ponds

Over a period, a period, a number of ponds have been constructed under various schemes at individual level with assistance from government or are constructed at their own. Owing to various reason may be some of the ponds were either abandoned or remained unattended, thus making them unproductive or under productive. The reason behind may be natural calamities or economic instability. With the incentive farmers can be persuaded to undertake maintenance of these ponds and make them productive/functional which would add to their income and prosperity.

Distribution of fish seed

Fish seed is the critical input in aquaculture which determines productivity or the outcome. Most of the ponds are left un-stocked with fish seed by the farmers because of not getting the same at right season and time. Since seed is not readily available locally, farmers find it difficult to manage it from outside because of high transportation cost, uncertainty in terms of breed and quality. Further weak financial condition and is the reason for leaving their pond without stocking fish seed thus making it unproductive. To assure the farmers about uninterrupted supply and availability of quality seed, the scheme is being implemented. Feedback from the ground level indicates its popularity and impact on production and productivity.

Fish based eco-tourism

Eco-tourism is a sustainable form of resource utilization which in turn helps conservation while providing sustained income. Considering its advantage over traditional farming optimum multiple uses of the resources on sustainable basis must be thought of and encouraged. Fishery based eco-tourism is emerging as one of the area for the educated unemployed youth and farmer to develop entrepreneurship/self-employment and also results in ancillary activities which generates employment. Fish farm of progressive fish farmers can be converted into multi-dimensional venture with beautification of the landscape, addition of recreational infrastructures and angling facilities beside routine annual production of fish and fish seed. One time small scale little earning farm can be transformed to an enterprise with round the year livelihood earning for the owner.