Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 18
Anglers’ Association of Nagaland (ANN) on Saturday observed World Fish Migration Day at Noune Resort, Dimapur with renowned angler, Derek D’Souza from Mahseer Trust as the resource person.
Attended by Angler enthusiasts and children, Derek spoke to them about the important role that Anglers play in monitoring and caring for the waterways and fish stocks. “Anglers are natural custodians for these important natural resources; they spend much of their free time on the water and so they are often the first to observe changes within the natural environment,” he said.
Derek said Anglers also aid researchers in understanding the fish population and species and added that more new species have been discovered by Anglers and Hobbyists.
Barriers and fish migration
Derek said that barriers, such as weirs, dams and sluices could impede and prevent migrations which are essential for fish to access habitats which function to support reproductive, feeding and refuge requirements. “When denied of this freedom to move between habitats, species may be unable to complete their life cycles and the self-sustainability of population becomes threatened,” he added. He revealed that global fish stocks and species were declining at an alarming rate and migratory fishes that require access to and within rivers are becoming increasingly threatened.
According to Derek, in India, fish species such as Mahseer, barramundi (Asian/Indian sea bass), Indo-Pacific tarpon, Indian shad, pearl spot and snapper represent few of the migratory fish. He said some of these species were already endangered, while others, subject to several anthropogenic threats, may become threatened and potentially extinct in the future if urgent attention is not paid.
“Our thoughtless actions are threatening abundant fish and destroying our life source. If we do not work to conserve our fishes and rivers now - there will be nothing left for our children,” he pointed out.
Derek said human activities like river poisoning, dynamite fishing, gill netting, discharge of effluents, sand mining etc were endangering the life of fishes and other living organisms in the river.
Water abstraction, power generation and disposal and downstream transport of human waste products are some examples which carry a high environmental and ecological cost, he added.
Derek said fish population have long been recognized as excellent indicators of aquatic ecosystem health and the general cleanliness of rivers and appealed the people for keeping the water bodies clean.
What is World Fish Migration Day?
World Fish Migration Day – India 2016 (WFMD) is a one-day global initiative, with local events worldwide, to create awareness on the importance of open rivers and migratory fish. WFMD is held to improve the publics’ understanding of the importance of open rivers and migratory fish and its needs.
The event is being celebrated in over 450 Locations worldwide and 11 locations in India.
WFMD in Dimapur was organized by ANN in association with Mahseer Trust, All India Game Fishing Association, Pelagic Tribe, Mustad, Surecatch, Agwetor and Zerek.
The day was marked with fish drawing competition among children while the resource person exhibited the art of Angling during catch and release of fish session.
