ROURKELA: Amid sharp depletion of fishery resources in Brahmani river eventually hurting the river ecosystem, bio-diversity and livelihood of local fishermen, about 7.5 lakh advanced fingerlings were released in the river on Saturday under the River Ranching Programme.
Stocking of fingerlings was carried out in the Brahmani river at Sundikono village point of the Bonai block in Sundargarh district by the District Fisheries Office under the PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana). Before release of the fingerlings an awareness programme was held by the district fisheries officials with involvement of the members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and villagers, the key stakeholders.
Sundargarh district fisheries officer Arun Kumar Sahoo said as part of the River Ranching Programme annual stocking of fingerlings in Brahmani river this year was carried out in Bonai block, while last year fingerlings were released in the adjacent Lahunipada block.
Over the years, the fishery resources of the river have depleted to great extent following continuous fishing by poor villagers living along the river. For some, it is their only means of subsistence. Now not enough fish resources are available in the river directly affecting their livelihood and food concern, informed Sahoo.
“Aimed at conservation of fishery resources and supporting the ecology, the fingerlings released now would grow into fishes of one kilogram or more by August. The village stakeholders have been educated and requested not to catch or harm the fingerlings till they grow enough to be economically more useful,” Sahoo informed.
Stocking of fingerlings in Bonai would benefit the villagers up to 40 km upstream of the river till Lathikata block as fishes have natural instinct of staying and living against the river current, the officer said.
Between Bonai and Lathikata about 1,000 villagers indulge in fishing and five to 10 percent among them do fishing to sell at the local markets for livelihood.
The programme was attended by senior fisheries technical assistance for Bonai Sumita Kindo, villagers from Bonai, Kasra, Tendra and few other panchayats.