Working Group Report on - Haryana Kisan Ayog

4.0 ISSUES, OPTIONS AND ACTION PLAN4.1. Resource related Issues and OptionsDeclining fish productionFish production from natural water bodies namely rivers and lakes has continued todecline and now constitutes only 4% of total fish production. This is partly due todepletion of riverine fish resources (Yamuna and Ghaggar) as well as shrinkage,siltation and even disappearance of some lake resources due to severalanthropogenic activities.Declining aquatic biodiversityIn 1980, 77 fish species were reported while it came down to 60 species by 2006-07.The introduction of exotic fishes like African Magur, Tilapia, Silver Carp andCommon Carp are said to have played major role in this as they have becomeinvasive in natural water bodies while the overall habitat degradation, abstraction ofwater, and pollution leading to loss of breeding grounds might be equallyresponsible.Lack of compliance of conservation oriented regulationsThough existing regulations sufficiently provide for and prohibit exploitative fishingin natural water bodies, their compliance is far from satisfactory due to lack ofvoluntary efforts on part of the farmers as well as absence of effective monitor ablemechanism. Every year, DoF reports confiscation of several fishing gears andillegally caught fish from these water bodies. However, these measures have notbeen able to asset the decline both in terms of fish production and habitatdestruction.Moving towards community based management of these water bodies withnecessary policy and regulation support would be the only viable long term option.Fishers / farmers living in the periphery shall become primary stakeholders in theirmanagement and suitable location specific plan needs to be developed taking intoaccount their potential for eco-tourism, fish sanctuaries, sports fisheries, fishproduction potential, etc.( 34 )