Jammu, July 29: In the face of decreasing production of exotic trout fish in the high alpine streams of J&K, the  government is mulling to seek help of European and American experts to give new lease of life to trout farming,
According to the officials, the government contemplates to engage consultants from the foreign countries so as to provide training to the people who want to set up the fish farms.
At present there are 1272 private fish farms across the state but very few are in trout rearing, sources said.
A selected high altitude streams and lakes in the state particularly in newly identified areas of Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch will be opened for the foreign consultants.
Sources said the government was also carrying out a survey to identify new places to introduce trout species.
“We have decided to encourage local youth to set up trout fish farms from this year and a comprehensive plan have been made to implement it”, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Minister for Fisheries said adding that help of the experts from European and American countries will also be sought for this purpose.
The state particularly the Valley was once known as anglers’ paradise, with a network of rivers and streams as well as high altitude lakes providing natural condition for the growth of the exotic fish, but during the unrest in the state the natural habitat of this particular specie was disturbed as a result of which the trout has now reached at the verge of extinction in the state.
Government claims that it has taken several measures in the last three years to review the species not only in Valley but also in other parts of the state.
“We want to revive this industry as it could be one of the important employment and revenue generating sector,” said Khan.
Last year trout fish production reached 150 tonnes and half of it was exported to different parts of the country, he said adding that the fish have great demand at domestic and foreign market.
Pertinently, the Pisciculture in the state has been brought under the purview of the centrally sponsored Rashtriya Kissan Vikas Yojna (RKVY) to facilitate central funding for its promotion in the state.
The Pisciculture, experts here say, could attract the tourists also and increase the scope for the anglers as foreign tourists are particularly attracted to it.
Last year the fisheries department had clocked revenue of Rs one crore by selling trout fish and with the temptation to enter foreign markets, it is trying to increase production.
Last fiscal the fish production in the state had touched 19,000 tonnes generating more than Rs 2 crore revenue.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST