Mahseer Ranching Report

Ranching of Golden Mahseer in the Alaknanda under Namami Gange Programme for conservation of the riverine ecosystem and biodiversity

Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora), the state fish of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh, is an iconic, mighty, migratory fish native to the pristine Himalayan waters with immense ecological, socio-cultural, recreational, livelihood and nutritional significance. However, the fish has become “endangered” because of several reasons such as dam construction, habitat destruction, over-fishing, pollution, etc. and been put on IUCN Red List.

For conservation of the riverine ecosystem and biodiversity, and restoration of Mahseer fisheries in Himlayan rivers, 7000 fingerlings of the Golden Mahseer were released by ICAR-Central Inland Fishereis Research Institute into the Alaknanda River upstream of the Shrinagar dam near Dhari Devi Temple on 12 June 2026 under the Namami Gange Project. The fish were grown to advanced fingerling sizes before ranchinmg to ensure their survival in harsh Himalayan waters. As part of this effort, a Mahseer hatchery was established in the Department of Zoology, Chauras Campus, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, with support from Alaknanda Hydro Power Company. The 7,000 fingerlings released into the river were produced in this hatchery and in another hatchery operated by the Fisheries Department in Tehri Garhwal.

The ranching programme was graced by Prof. Manju Prakash Gusain, Prof. O.P. Gusain, Prof. Deepak Singh of Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University and Pushkar Singh Nayal and Sanjay Singh, officials of the Tehri Garhwal Fisheries Department. During the event, emphasis was also given on raising awareness about river conservation and the enhancement of aquatic life.

Dr. Deepak Singh praised the initiative and marked the ranching activity as a significant step toward preserving the biodiversity of rivers. He noted that the Mahseer has been designated as the State fish of Uttarakhand, but its population in the region’s rivers has been steadily declining. At the global level, the species has become endangered, making its conservation and propagation extremely important.

During the event, Namami Gange project scientists Dr. Upendra Singh, Dr. Jitendra Singh Rana, and Dr. Ranjit Singh spoke about the importance for conservation of Mahseer. They informed participants that approximately 40,000 Mahseer juveniles had been released before at various locations in the Ganga River under the Namami Gange program. The event also witnessed active participation of several researchers and local fish farmers. Participants collectively pledged to keep the river clean, healthy, and vibrant.