August 7, 2012

 

High temperature destroys fish in India's Nigeen Lake

 

 

Due to high temperatures, thousands of fish are dying in the Nigeen Lake in Indian- controlled Kashmir.

 

The abrupt deaths of fish in huge number have pushed the carcasses on lake's surface in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

 

"I've never seen lake's placid waters dotted with dead fish in my life," said Bashir Ahmad Dar, a local. "It's something unusual and scary to look at."

 

Dar says he has been living along the Nigeen Lake for past 40 years. The lake is famous for its high class wooden houseboats, where usually foreign tourists prefer to stay.

 

The region's fisheries department said fish are victims of fluctuating summer temperatures.

 

"The death of fish is due to depletion of oxygen levels in the Nigeen Lake because of high temperature spell," an official spokesman said.

 

Director of Fisheries Department Showkat Ali said majority of the dead fish includes four species, two non-commercial and other two commercial. "The non-commercial species include Gambusia and small carp, while as commercial species include schizothorax and common carp," Ali said.

 

The trash fish - Gambusia affinis - growing up to two inches is used as a supplementary diet for trout fish, officials said.

 

The department said they will take required precautionary measures for protection of fish in the lake to prevent further deaths. Meteorological department officials said a shortage in rainfall was recorded over the past two months.

 

"During June and July, the average rainfall in Kashmir used to be 95 millimetres, however this season it has been just 46 millimetres," said Sonum Lotus, director of Meteorological department in Srinagar.

 

The high temperature and shortage of rainfall has resulted in decreasing water level in streams and canals, thereby affecting irrigation supplies and creating drought like situation. The mercury hovered around 34 degrees Celsius during last week. The two-month long dry spell was broken Friday (Aug 3) evening after the region received a rainfall for several hours.

 

The centre of research for development (CORD) at University of Kashmir has send team of scholars for a scientific study to ascertain causes behind the large scale death of fish in Nigeen Lake.

 

"We are investigating the possible reasons that resulted into death of fish in the lake," said Nuzhat, a research scholar with CORD. She along with other people had come to the lake to do spot assessment.

 

Flocks of eagles, crows and kingfishers were seen flying over the lake and swooping on the dead fish scattered on the lake's surface.

 

The Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) entrusted with conservation of Dal and Nigeen lakes have pressed in men and machinery to clear the lake.

 

Inside Nigeen Lake, the government has banned fishing activity. The ban was imposed after scientists discovered the lake was serving as mating water body for the fish species. The lake is a breeding sanctuary for carp fish and over the years the fish population has seen a sharp rise.