Inland Fisheries

4.2.15 Development of the fisheries of Indian reservoirs

The low fish yield from various large reservoirs in India is mainly due to unscientific management and over exploitation. Hence, attention needs to be paid on the following steps to improve the yield from reservoirs.

1. Survey of fish fauna of the river before impoundment of the reservoir.
2. Clearance of submerged obstructions like tree trunks, buildings, etc., preferably at the pre-impoundment stage and weeds, to permit easy exploitation.
3. Establishment of a fish farm. Production of fish seed in pens and cages would be able to play vital role in procuring seed for stocking the reservoirs as required.
4. Stocking of the reservoir.
5. Survey of fish seed resources to decide the necessity and intensity of stocking from extraneous sources.
6. Rehabilitation of fishermen communities on the periphery of the reservoir.
7. Organisation of co-operative societies for proper marketing.
8. Topographical survey of the reservoir substrata.
9. Experimental fishing before throwing open the reservoir for commercial exploitation.
10. Transport and marketing.
11. Conservation and management