‘Steps being taken to boost fish production’

PESHAWAR: The Department of Fisheries has taken a number of steps to improve and expand fish production and to boost economic activity of the province.

Reforms were initiated during the last three years for promotion of community-based fisheries, protection and preservation of the fish biodiversity and development of appropriate fish production technologies, said a report.

“About 49 fish farms
were established in Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Swabi and Lower Dir districts.
Trainings were provided to more than 100 farmers in order to strengthen their professional capacity on the methods and techniques of breeding and rearing of fish,” it added.

Moreover, it said, five trout hatcheries were repaired and made functional whereas more than one million trout eggs were imported and left for hatching in the cold water canals of Kaghan, Swat, Chitral, Upper Dir and Shangla. Additionally, these eggs were also provided to the private sector fisheries.

The department has also started the repairing and expansion of three carp fish hatcheries for increasing the production of fish in the province.

In the ADP for year 2015-16, Rs205.172 have been allocated for completion of nine developmental projects. “Fish hatcheries at Kohistan and Battagram will be reconstructed for restoring the fish production facility,” the report added.

Additionally, it said that a Trout Training Centre will be established in Kaghan Valley to train farmers in the breeding of trout fish.