SWABI, March 31: The practice of catching fish by using dynamite has registered an alarming increase in the district, endangering different species of fish.

The river downstream of Tarbela Dam passes through various densely populated villages of the district where a number of families earn their livelihood through illegal fishing.

While some people use traditional net or rod to catch fish, many others use dynamite as it saves time and requires less effort on the part of fishermen.

But the blasting also damages fish nurseries.

During a recent visit to the Indus river, it was observed that thousands of small dead fish were floating over the surface. According to people they were killed by dynamite.

When contacted a senior official of the provincial fisheries department told Dawn on the condition of anonymity that illegal fishing had discouraged them so much that two years back they had decided to give on lease the downstream of Tarbela Dam for fisheries-related projects.

However, he said that decision was withdrawn due to political pressure. The decision also saved jobs of some of the employees of the fisheries department who were being sent to the surplus pool.

Another official of the fisheries department said shortage of staff was also a factor as there were only seven people who could not monitor the entire area from downstream of the Tarbela Dam to Jehangira where the Indus river meets the Kabul river.

“It is a very long and wide area, and it is extremely difficult for us to check illegal fishing. Our dilemma is that majority of people who live near the Indus river usually catch fish at night,” he said.

He claimed that those indulged in illegal fishing were either fined or put behind bars and action was also taken against them according to law.

The official disclosed that after the completion of the Ghazi Barotha Project, the Indus river water would be diverted to it which would affect the fish nurseries set up in the area.

The continued illegal fishing has made it clear that the fisheries department has failed to give due attention to this sector where thousands of families could earn their livelihood in legal manner.

Moreover, a number of youth can also be employed in this sector.