World Fisheries day is celebrated every year on November 21, throughout the world. On this day several rallies, public meetings, workshops, cultural programs, dramas, exhibitions, music shows are held to paint a picture of ways and methods of maintaining and enhancing the production of different varieties of fish across the world. Programs are also organised in universities & professional institutes. Shocking is the fact that studies show a decline in fish production. The main reasons being loss of essential fish habitats, pollution & global warming.
History of World Fisheries Day
World Fisheries Day is the day when international fishermen’s organization was formed in New Dehli, India. The World Fisheries Forum (WFF) was established on November 21, 1997. On this day (November 21), fishing representatives from 18 countries signed a declaration that seeks a global mandate for sustainable fishing practices and policies. The creation of WFF was founded on the common principles of sustaining the fishing communities, sustaining the fisheries practces, social justice, and preserving the cultural history of fish harvesters and fish workers.
Despite of all odds and working honestly, the fishing community has remained poorest of the poor but is treated just like untouchables due to ignorance & negative attitude of the successive popular government. We as good human beings have to come for their rescue to behave with them like humans.
Kashmir Fisheries
Kashmir which is known as crown & Switzerland of India, constitutes, the extreme western section of the Himalayas, which lies between 33°1 to 35°6’N latitude and 73°48`to 75°30`E longitude. Nature has bestowed this beautiful part with large riverine system, including Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Suru, Shyok and some important streams like Lidder, Veshav,Bringhi, Sandrani, kishanganga, Doodh ganga and Remb Ara. The streams & rivers harbour a number of fish species and a great bulk of population is associated with fishing activity. The state has wide varieties , owing to which climatic conditions of the state are of extreme type.
Valley is known as “Angler’s Paradise ” and it’s fishing has attracted tourists for the last several decades. Valley has varieties of fishe species present in its naturally oxygenated freshwater. Water being the cold and fresh contains number of tasty fishes like Rain bow trout(Salmo trato faria), Brown Trout (onchrynkiss Mykis) Schizothorax spp of Kashur Guard, Ram guard, gurun, churut, tethor, kandig, Anour , carps & Sopore guard etc. Four varieties of kashmir cuisine are famous like Ruwangan guard, hak guard, mujeh guard & Nadre guard. To cultivate the fishes through modern techniques an entrepreneurship Department of fisheries was established, which comes under the Administrative department of forests. The fisheries department in the Jammu & Kashmir state has established a world class Trout Hatchery in Kokernag, which fetches tones of Trout fishes.
Fishermen community, the poorest of the poor
Community associated with this profession in Kashmir, known as Haanji or Haenz live around Famous Dal Lake, Wular lake and on banks of River Jhelum from Khanabal to Chattabal. Their condition & style of livelihood has not changed. Women only in this community work more than men and shoulder 90% household expenditure. This community has to battle a lot in carrying out the fishing activities in troubling times dawn to dusk , the women folk sell fishes and move from place to place and whole day people will see them arranges fishes on the sales outlets.
Despite of all odds and working honestly, the fishing community has remained poorest of the poor but is treated just like untouchables due to ignorance & negative attitude of the successive popular government. We as good human beings have to come for their rescue to behave with them like humans.
(The author is a regular contributor of “Kashmir Horizon”. His views are personal)
