THATTA, Aug 20: The Chilya Fish Hatchery, one of the major sites for breeding fish of various species in Thatta, requires special attention of the authorities including widening of its scope and provision of more funds.

This was noticed by a team of local journalists who visited the hatchery on Friday, revealed that since its establishment in 1982,the hatchery had helped develop 341 fish farms on 28,200 acres in various areas of Sindh, by providing technical know-how and seedlings to them.

The deputy director of the hatchery, Zulfiqar Larik, informed newsmen that over 2.5 million fries of various fish species including Kuriro (Labea Rohita), Morakhi (Cirrhimus Mrigala), Theri (Catla Catla), Gulfam (Cyprinus Carpio), Silver Corp (Hypoophthalmichthys Mlitrix), Grass Corp (Ctenopharyngodonittellus) were being breed at the hatchery.

After its growth to some considerable size, Mr Larik said, some one million various species would be released into Keenjhar Lake and the remaining would be sold out to the private sector to earn revenue.

Mr Larik was hopeful, this season, the department was expecting to earn over rupees one million from the sale of these species. He observed that following the frequent use of prohibited nets by foreign fishing trawlers, various fish varieties were becoming extinct, consequently the local fishermen had diverted their skill and economy to explore fresh avenues of fishing in sweet waters.

He contended that establishment of large number of fish farms would help eradicate poverty and fulfil the protein requirement of the population. Mr Zulfiqar revealed that Chilya Fisheries Training and Extension Institute which has been running under Chilya Fish Hatchery administration within its walls has so far imparted technical training to more than 2500 fishermen and advised the youth to impart training of technical know-how of fish-breeding and become self-reliant.