Rajasthan

Illegal Fishing Hits Aquatic Life In Chambal: Study | Jaipur News

JAIPUR: A study conducted by Rajasthan State Biodiversity Board (RSBB) has revealed that rampant illegal fishing inside National Chambal Sanctuary in Kota was posing a serious threat to aquatic species, including the critically endangered ghariyal and elusive smooth-coated otter.
As the forest department continues to remain in deep slumber, illegal fishermen have set their eyes on the sanctuary to make some fast buck.

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The report reads, “The study was conducted in 8.15km upstream of Kota barrage and 11.65km upstream of Jawahar Sagar. Probably due to illegal fishing, ghariyals have disappeared. Moreover, many a times otters and crocodiles also get trapped in nets and die untimely.”
The study highlighted that fish worth Rs 12 crore per annum is illegally extracted from the sanctuary. The report reads, “Fish species caught from the sanctuary are of high commercial value. Around 55 boats engaged in illegal fishing extract fish worth Rs 5.28 crore per annum. Similarly, 128 fishermen use tubes and nets to catch fish worth Rs 7 crore per annum.”
Chambal, which boasts of abundance of aquatic resources, attracts fishermen from neighboring towns and even from Madhya Pradesh to meet the market demand.
Field biologist Urashavi Sharma said, “Fishermen lay thousands of nets daily as there is no patrolling carried out by the forest department. Also, blasting is done inside the sanctuary. Strict action should be taken to curb the practice.”
A source said due to illegal fishing, the population of otters is also declining, which was once a major attraction for wildlife lovers. “Fish species in the river have been affected due to netting and blasting. This has also impacted otters that depend on fish for their meals. After finding that the population of otters is declining, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reviewed its status in 2014 and listed it in the ‘Red List.’ Illegal fishing should be immediately stopped to save fish and other animals.”

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