MAHSEER, a freshwater game fish, is commonly known as the tiger of the fishes. Its population has seen a reduction in the last three decades and it is now considered an endangered species by the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR).

The fish has also been placed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species. However, angling tourism is still alive because enough of its species exist in the Himalayan and central Indian rivers.

Historically, mahseer was found in the rivers of the subcontinent and in the rivers that are now in Pakistan, mostly in Balochistan, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, the species population has drastically declined in most parts, according to recent studies. The only area the fish is found in some abundance is the Poonch river of Azad Kashmir.

The reason for the decline in its population in Pakistan is rampant pollution, habitat loss and overfishing. Other major reasons are the growing number of hydroelectric and irrigation projects, illegal encroachments on waterways, etc.

The authorities need to promote strategies to save mahseer from extinction. This can be done by resorting to habitat conservation and development of seed production technology to save this game fish.

Zeeshan Nasir Baloch
Kech

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2021