Cold water fisheries of Pakistan (by Muhammad Yaqoob)

Aquaculture Fisheries Research Institute, National Agriculture Research Centre,
Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

There are two exotic and 26 indigenous cold water fish species in Pakistan, mainly restricted to the north of the country's North West Frontier Province and Northern Areas. The stocks of indigenous fish have been threatened by overfishing and deterioration of the environment. Exotic brown trout has established self-reproducing stocks in a number of rivers, and the rainbow trout is cultured. Indigenous fish protection and domestication are major priorities. Raising awareness among the local population of the need to protect fishery resources and social uplift of fishers are two major areas for future action. Other needs are the establishment of a database management system, and encouraging regional cooperation and networking to resolve issues of common interest.

1. INTRODUCTION

Pakistan is a country of great variety of landscapes and environmental conditions. This variety of habitats is especially remarkable in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). In addition, there is a critical constrast between winter and summer seasons. The rivers and streams are deep or shallow, clear or muddy, cold or warm, fast or slow and may have stony, sandy or muddy bottom and rich or scanty vegetation along the banks.

2. BACKGROUND AND STATUS

Pakistan's freshwater resources are dominated by the Indus River system, which serves as a drainage basin for the Himalayas. The Indus originates in western Tibet and enters Pakistan through Baltistan. As the river flows through the Northern Areas, the Shyok, Astor and Gilgit rivers join the Indus. In the NWFP it is joined by the Kabul River, where the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej join it and then it flows into Sindh before draining into the Arabian Sea. Inland waters, which extend over about 8 million hectares area include a network of canals, dams, lakes and water-logged areas. At least 180 species of fish are reported to exist in Pakistan freshwaters, including representatives from important groups such as loaches, carps and catfish. A total production of 185 000 tons of fish was recorded from inland waters of Pakistan during 2000-2001 (Government of Pakistan, 2001).

There are 28 fish species listed as inhabiting cold waters of Pakistan. Most of the snow trout are restricted to the Trans-Himalayan Region of the Indus system where the temperature of the river remains below 20°C and only a few come down from the mountains, mainly due to low water temperature.

CHECK LIST OF COLD WATER FISH IN PAKISTAN

(Lone, 1983; Rafique and Qureshi, 1997; LEAD-Pakistan, 1999)

R: Rare
C: Common
* Endemic
** Exotic
NA: Northern Areas
NWFP: North West Frontier Province
AK:Azad Kashmir

Akhtar (1991) also listed for Northern Areas the exotic species Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus, and the indigenous species Schizopyge longipinnis, Schizopygopsis stoliczkai, Schizocypris brucei and Nemacheilus semiarmatus as cold water species of Pakistan. He also provided a list of species for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Akhtar, 1991a). A comprehensive list with 36 fish species of the Indus River and its tributaries around Tarbela was prepared by Ali et al. (1980), with most of these species of a cold water character. All these lists are available in Petr (1999), with more details on species distribution and development potential for cold water fish in Pakistan.

3. ROLE OF COLD WATER FISH TO SUPPORT THE LIVELIHOOD OF RURAL PEOPLE

Not enough land is available in the northern areas of Pakistan. Rapid population growth has placed increasing pressure on the rural resources. Land, forest, water and wildlife resources have been degraded or destroyed. Agricultural production is not keeping pace with population growth. Poor health, nutrition and education contribute to low labour productivity. Poor links to markets limit farmer's ability to acquire sufficient capital to invest in draft animals, better implements and technologies that conserve the productivity of the land.

In order to overcome these hurdles in agriculture cold water fish farming in the area can be very useful in focusing local people needs. Farming of cold water fish can identify the path along which the people and communities themselves can manage the resources in an efficient and sustainable way for the improvement of their well-being. While practicing this effort local people's experience, social organization and capabilities should be given preference. Fish input in the form of good quality fish feed to produce good stocking material is necessary. This and other inputs should be offered free rather than imposed and the people of the area should be given free hand for the selection of the inputs according to their needs because development of the area for any commodity is a dynamic process rather than a stagnant process.

4. INTRODUCTION AND DOMESTICATION OF EXOTIC SPECIES

Cold water fisheries prevails in NWFP and Northern Areas, where two species of exotic trout have established themselves in rivers. They are brown trout, Salmo trutta, and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Trout culture began in NWFP in 1928, when brown trout was first brought from Kashmir and kept in a nursery tank in the Shinu hatchery, Kaghan Valley. In 1930, it was introduced in Swat and Chitral, but without success. In 1945, about 120 adult brown trout were stocked directly in the Lutkoh River, Chitral, where they reproduced and established a good population. In 1961, trout was stocked in Swat from Kaghan and later in Baluchistan, Azad Jammu Kashmir and Punjab. The first breeding was conducted in 1962 and the resultant fry were stocked in the upper reaches of the Swat River, where they successfully became established.

An artificial trout feed was formulated based on locally available feed ingredients to replace conventional feed, i.e. 50% flour and 50% minced meat. This artificial feed not only reduced fish production cost by 50% but also provided a base for establishing trout culture on a commercial scale (Rab et al., 1990). In another experiment (Rab, personal communication) conducted on a private fish farm at Madyan, fish meal and other costly feed ingredients were replaced with soybean meal, and other plant origin ingredients, resulting in further reduction of cost of fish production by improving the conversion to 1:1.45.

Director, Federally-Administered Northern Areas, Director, Directorate of Fisheries, NWFP, and Deputy Director, Fisheries Department of Azad Jammu Kashmir with their supporting officers look after the propagation and culture of cold water fish, particularly trout.

5. HUMAN IMPACT ON NATIVE COLD WATER FISH

The widespread destruction of habitats as a result of the burgeoning human population, pervasive poverty and people's consumption habits have quickened the pace of species loss. Fish and fishery products have made significant contributions to food and employment in Pakistan, yet little effort has been made for their preservation.

Domestic waste is probably one of the main sources of organic waste that mostly enters the riverine system untreated resulting in high loads of waste reaching the rivers. Refuse also contributes substantial pollution loads to rivers. There are also large inputs of organic waste from agriculture-based industries. High concentrations of suspended solids in rivers are commonly present as a result of land erosion following deforestation and mining operations. A number of dams and barrages regulate river water flow in NWFP, Punjab and Sindh. This interferes with free movement of fish. Indiscriminate fishing and overfishing are also a major threat to native fish species of Pakistan. Many northern cold water hill stream loaches of the genus Nemacheilus and Triplophysa are threatened (LEAD-Pakistan, 1999).

6. CONSERVATION AND MITIGATION MEASURES

Sustainable capture fishery production is only achieved when stock is not over-exploited. To protect the stocks against this, the following measures should be implemented:

• Implement Fisheries Ordinance 1961 and Fisheries Rules, 1976, to prevent illegal fishing and to control mesh size of nets, poisoning, use of explosives, etc.

• Enforce closed season for fishing (from the 1 October to 9 March) allowing protection of broodstock, undisturbed migration and spawning.

• Regularly stock the waters to replenish the fish stock. The seed necessary for that is to be produced in hatcheries.

• Form fish protection committees to promote awareness among the people.

7. FUTURE POTENTIAL OF COLD WATER FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRY AND PROSPECTS OF REGIONAL COOPERATION

The waters of the entire Deosai Plateau (above 4 000 meters) from the Astor River to Sheosar Lake are excellent for trout. Sheosar Lake and all the major rivers of the Deosai should be stocked with trout. A major trout fishing programme could be developed on the Deosai with very little overall cost, and with little environment impact. Limited fishing licenses could be sold as part of the management programme, and the proceeds from these fees could be used to further enhance the fishing programme. Brown trout and rainbow trout are carnivores, and will not be in direct competition with the local fish fauna. The local snow trout of the Deosai, which reach enormous size, are also very good to eat, and could be developed as a game fish on the Deosai (Woods et al., 1997). The indigenous snow trout Schizothorax plagiostomus seems to be the most suitable species for aquaculture in NWFP (Butt, 1994).

Based upon the observations made at the Madyan Trout Hatchery, Swat, the Kamloop strain of rainbow trout is better suited than the brown trout. It is faster growing, well tolerant of crowding and water temperature fluctuations.

The snow trout Schizothorax plagiostomus also has a good potential for aquaculture in NWFP. Its culture would generate income and provide employment to the rural population. Regional cooperation in form of exchange visits of experts for research and development and other matters of common interests is necessary.

8. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• Human resources development and participatory research among scientists, extension workers and fishermen should be established.

• Broodstock of indigenous species and undersized fish must be protected from capture.

• Regional cooperation and networking to encourage cooperation in the region to resolve issues of common interests should be developed.

• Efforts should be made to strengthen policies for the social uplift of fishers by providing basic amenities of life, education, health and security.

• A database management system should be established.

• Research and development institutions should focus on conducting studies aimed at improving native stocks through genetic selection and genetic engineering.

• Effort should be made to breed non-commercial threatened fish.

References

Akhtar, N, 1991. The Northern Areas (Pakistan). Fisheries profile, feasible sites for trout culture and overall sectoral development perspective. Report for Project PAK/91/008. Rome, FAO. 29p.

Akhtar, N., 1991a. Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Fisheries profile, feasible sites for trout culture and an overal sectoral development perspective. Report for Project PAK/88/048. Rome, FAO. 25p.

Ali,, S.R., M. Ahmad, M.A.S. Ansari and M.R. Misra, 1980. Hydrobiological studies of the Indus River and its tributaries above and below Tarbela Dam. Pakistan J. Sci. Studies 2(1+2): 15-30.

Butt, Javed Ahmed, 1994. Stimulation and promotion of intensive aquaculture in Pakistan. Proceedings of National Seminar on Fisheries Policy and Planning, Marine Fisheries Department, Government of Pakistan. Karachi. Pp. 295-300.

Govt. of Pakistan, 2001. Economic Survey 2000-2001. Islamabad.

LEAD-Pakistan, 1999. Pakistan National Report on the Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Draft Report submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development, Govt. of Pakistan, LEAD-Pakistan. 127p.

Lone, Khalid P., 1983. Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture in Pakistan. Directorate of Scientific Information, PARC, Islamabad. 62p.

Petr, T., 1999. Coldwater fish and fisheries in Pakistan. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper. No. 385: 122-137. Rome, FAO.

Rab, A., S.A. Naveed and M. Afzal, 1990. Comparative performance of Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri) fed on different rations. Sarhad J. Agric. 6(6): 631-635.

Rafique, M. and M.Y. Qureshi, 1997. A contribution to the fish and fisheries of Azad Kashmir. In: Biodiversity of Pakistan: 335-343.

Woods, C.A., C.W. Kilpatrik, M. Rafique, M. Shah and W. Khan, 1997. Biodiversity and conservation of the Deosai Plateau, Northern Areas of Pakistan. In: Biodiversity of Pakistan: 33-61.