National Fish Farmers' Day Celebrated in Udaipur with Focus on Aquatic Biodiversity and Lake Conservation

Udaipur: On the occasion of National Fish Farmers' Day, the Mewar Anglers Society, in collaboration with the College of Fisheries, organized an awareness programme and seminar on aquatic biodiversity and environmental conservation at Fateh Sagar Lake on July 10.

Welcoming the participants, Govardhan Singh Jhala, President of the Mewar Anglers Society, highlighted the society's activities and emphasized the need to preserve the beauty and ecological health of Udaipur's lakes.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Atul Kumar Jain, Director of the Mewar Anglers Society, expressed concern over the deteriorating water quality of Udaipur's lakes. He noted that declining water quality is adversely affecting aquatic life, particularly fish populations, while also posing potential risks to public health, as the lakes serve as a major source of drinking water for the city's residents.

Senior society member J.C. Biswas explained the significance of National Fish Farmers' Day. He recalled that on July 10, 1957, fisheries scientists Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri and Dr. K.H. Alikunhi successfully achieved induced breeding of Indian major carps, including Rohu and Mrigal, at the Pond Culture Division of the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute in Angul, Cuttack, Odisha. This breakthrough made it possible to produce fish seed in laboratories and hatcheries, eliminating the dependence on collecting fish seed from rivers and canals. The day is commemorated annually as National Fish Farmers' Day.

Speaking about the Mewar Anglers Society, Biswas said that the organization was established in 2009 by a group of concerned citizens of Udaipur to raise public awareness about the role of fish in maintaining healthy lake ecosystems, promote environmental and biodiversity conservation, and protect endangered fish species, particularly the Mahseer.

Dr. R.L. Soni, Dean of the College of Fisheries, stressed the importance of public participation in lake conservation. He urged citizens to maintain cleanliness not only in the lakes but also around their surroundings. Expressing concern over plastic bags, bottles, food waste, and other litter often left behind after recreational activities and gatherings near lakes, he appealed to everyone to take responsibility for protecting the environment.

Former Dean Dr. Subodh Sharma provided scientific insights into the Mahseer fish, discussing its morphology, feeding habits, behaviour, and various species. He highlighted the ecological significance of the species and the need for its conservation.

Former Dean of the College of Fisheries, Kawardha (Chhattisgarh), Dr. Hemendra Kumar Vardia, emphasized the urgent need to conserve aquatic ecosystems. He warned that failure to protect aquatic habitats could lead to the extinction of several aquatic species, noting that Mahseer has already disappeared from Udaipur's lakes. He called for immediate conservation efforts to protect the remaining Mahseer population in Badi Lake.

Ismail Ali Durga, founder of the Mewar Anglers Society, shared the successful journey of achieving the first artificial breeding of Mahseer in Udaipur in 2016. He explained that Mahseer is an extremely sensitive species requiring exceptionally clean water, making artificial breeding highly challenging. With support from the Forest Department, sustained efforts were undertaken from 2010 to 2016, culminating in the successful induced breeding of Mahseer in October 2016. He added that scientists and conservation organizations consider artificial breeding and restocking one of the most effective strategies for conserving the species, as natural breeding has declined significantly across many reservoirs in India.

During the seminar, former RAS officer Mohammad Yaseen Pathan was conferred honorary membership of the Mewar Anglers Society.

The programme was anchored by Virendra Singh Champawat, associated with Taj Hotels, while Suhas Manohar, Secretary of the Mewar Anglers Society, delivered the vote of thanks.

The event was attended by faculty members and students of the College of Fisheries, members of the Green People Society, serving and retired officials of the Fisheries Department, and several distinguished citizens of Udaipur.