ICAR-NBFGR signed an MoU with the Fisheries Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh

7^th June 2023, Lucknow

ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow signed an MoU with the Fisheries Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, today to facilitate stocking of State-fish of Uttar Pradesh ‘Chitala chitala’ (Clown knifefish) in rivers and Ompok bimaculatus (Pabda/Butter catfish) as candidate species for farming in the state.

ICAR-NBFGR will provide technical support and guidance and facilitate the supply of fingerlings of Chitala to the Fisheries Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, for regular ranching in the state’s rivers.

Dr. Sanjay Kumar Nishad, Minister of Fisheries, Government of Uttar Pradesh; Dr. Rajneesh Dube, IAS Additional Chief Secretary, Fisheries Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh; and Shri Ramakant Nishad, Chairperson, Uttar Pradesh Fisheries Development Corporation were present during the ceremony.

The MoU was signed by Dr. U. K. Sarkar, Director, ICAR-NBFGR, and Shri Prasant Sharma, IAS, Director, Fisheries Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh for their respective organizations.

Chitala was categorised as "Near Threatened" according to the IUCN list 2010. It’s vital to conserve the population of Chitala in the rivers of Uttar Pradesh by way of regular ranching. The Fisheries Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, plans to carry out river ranching of Chitala in Uttar Pradesh for the next ten years.

(Source: ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow)