ICAR-DCFR takes lead to develop Aquaculture and Fisheries in High-altitude Cold Desert of Ladakh

20 - 30 August, 2021

Shri Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary (Inland Fisheries), Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying along with Dr. Pramod Kumar Pandey, Director, ICAR-DCFR, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand and his team visited Ladakh from 20^thto 30^th August, 2021.

In a joint meeting with the concerned higher officials, Shri Radha Krishna Mathur, Lieutenant Governor, Ladakh emphasized on the capacity building, sustainable development of Aquaculture, conservation of endemic aquatic biodiversity, ornamental fisheries and strong cooperation between the stakeholders.

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During the Stakeholders' Convergence Meeting with the Research & Developmental Organizations and Fish Farmers in Ladakh, Dr. Pandey briefed about the Directorate's Aquaculture technologies and biodiversity conservation priorities for the development of fisheries in Ladakh.

On their visit to the Pangong Tso Lake on 21^st August, 2021, the Directorate's scientific team collected the baseline limnological data and recorded fish (Triplophysa spp.) and aquatic invertebrate specimens that inhabit this high altitude Brackishwater Lake. The team also visited all the functional government and private fish farms in Leh, Nubra valley, Kargil and Drass including those in the Border Villages of Ladakh.

The information collected during the visit will be utilised to draft the roadmap for Fisheries and Aquaculture development in Ladakh with practical solutions and location-specific strategies. This would enable the policies and action plans to effectively boost the fish production and conservation under the flagship PMMSY Scheme.

The Directorate has been vested with the responsibility for exploring and formulating a realistic roadmap to sustainably harness the potential of Fisheries and Aquaculture for providing the nutritional security and livelihood for the tribal population inhabiting the harsh high-altitude cold arid regions of Ladakh.

(Source: ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand)