Fishing activities in the Pong Dam reservoir in the lower Kangra hills were suspended on Tuesday as the annual two-month ban aimed at protecting fish during the breeding season came into force. The restriction, imposed every year from June 16 to August 15, prohibits fishing in the reservoir and other major water bodies across Himachal Pradesh, except trout streams.
To prevent illegal fishing during the breeding period, the Fisheries Department has deployed a flying squad and established 17 patrolling camps at strategic locations around the Pong reservoir. A fibre surveillance boat has also been pressed into service to monitor the vast water body and curb fish poaching activities.
According to Fisheries Director Vivek Chandel, the ban has been enforced across all major reservoirs and lakes in the state, including Pong, Gobind Sagar, Kaul Lake and Chamera reservoir. He said fishermen affected by the seasonal closure are being provided off-season allowance-cum-compensatory financial assistance. He warned that illegal fishing is a non-bailable offence and strict legal action would be taken against violators.
The department had detected 336 cases of illegal fishing during the previous breeding season in different reservoirs and lakes across the state, underscoring the need for stringent enforcement measures.
Pong reservoir is particularly known for its high-value Singhara fish, which accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the total fish production from the water body. Other commercially important species found here include Rohu, Catla, Common Carp and Mahaseer, all of which enjoy strong market demand.
During the last financial year, the reservoir produced 314.84 metric tonnes of fish, while the Fisheries Department has set a target of 347 metric tonnes for the current year. Spread over about 24,000 hectares and supporting 3,475 fishermen associated with 15 cooperative societies, the 42-km-long reservoir remains a vital source of livelihood for local communities.
