Srinagar, Apr 9: The J&K Fisheries Department has earned Rs 130 lakh revenue on account of recreational fisheries.
The revenue has been generated on account of entry fee to the Aquarium-cum-Awareness Centre at Bagh-i-Bahu Jammu which thrown open in 2007.
Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, assistant director headquarters, Fisheries Department said the awareness centre was the first of its kind in the country.
The department, he said, had developed the technology of ornamental fisheries some years back, as per which one can rare some species of fish inside the closed doors, and established aquarium-cum-awareness centre at Jammu.
 “Here you can see unique kinds of fisheries, like eels, Koi carp and other carps, Red Molly, turtle, various sharks, marine fisheries, brackish water fisheries and so on. Then you can see fossils as well,” said Sheikh.
Besides, he said, the fish aquarium was providing awareness to the people about various fisheries.
“This centre educates the people about various fishes of the state and outside. For instance, when a child or any visitor watches a fish here, he comes to know how it paddles, how it balances in the water, how it takes feed and how it works. So it becomes a source of awareness for him,” said Sheikh.
 “Reading about fishes in books is quite different from what you see yourself. Then you may see these on television, but here you can see the fishes and fossils with naked eyes,” he added.
The department also spreads the message of saving diversity through this venture. “Visitors who visit the centre read messages like Save fish, Preserve bio-diversity, Conserve water, etc,” the assistant director said.
He said psychiatrists have termed aquarium as ‘a great stress-buster.’ “If someone would notice these fishes, like how they chase each other, he shall be lost in this world for a moment and shall forget all his worries, agony and stress,” he said.
 “A well established aquarium with beautiful coloured fishes provides nerve-soothing effects to the people besides constant entertainment,” said Asifa Khan, senior project officer, Fisheries department.
The J&K Fisheries Department has so far established two aquarium-cum-awareness centers. The other one is situated at Nehru Park Gagribal, Srinagar, which, however, is presently under upgradation.
“We want to develop this centre also on the pattern of that of Jammu and make every such facility available there, so that it too becomes a source of attraction for the public and especially for foreigners,” said Sheikh.
The Gagribal centre is divided into six sections, viz. Audio-Video section (computer unit), library section, laboratory section, museum section, aquarium section and awareness section.
“For now we have started it on the makeshift system, but we want it to upgrade on a par with the aquarium at Jammu,” said Sheikh.
At present, the aquarium section is having different species of ornamental fishes, like Gold Fish, Shuban Kin carp, Brass gold carps, Red Molly, Koi, Tiger sharks, Tetra, eels and local Funa, said Asifa.
The officials said they further wanted to have an Aquaria Shop, wherein all the accessories would be available, Aquarium Information Counter at the main-gate, up-gradation of laboratory, floor treatment and re-modelling inside the stone building.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST