GODAWARI, AUGUST 8
Endangered fish species have started making a comeback in the Thuligad watershed area, thanks to the initiatives undertaken for its preservation by the local levels and organisations.
The Thuligad River separates Kailali and Doti districts and is one of the tributaries of the Karnali River.
The endangered Sahar species of fish has been detected in significant numbers in recent days in the river after a ban on illegal and destructive fishing.
Hikmat Bhat, a local of Chure Rural Municipality, said that Sahar fish is sold at Rs 1,800 per kilo. According to him, this species of fish was found with the increase in the water level in the Thuligad watershed area during monsoon. Lalit Shah, another trader at Sahajpur of Kailali, shared that fish of the endangered Sahar species along with other species are found in the Thuligad watershed area with the rise in water level in Karnali.
Shah added that Sahar species of fish fetches the highest price whereas the fish of other species sell at Rs 400 per kilo.
Twenty-seven fish species and 16 water plants species are found in this watershed area. Of these many fish species, Sahar, Zebra, Buche Asala, Sol, Chuchche and Rajabam indigenous species of fish are found, said Hukum Bohara, a local. Two local levels in Kailali and as many from Doti had banned destructive and rampant fishing some four years back for the conservation of aquatic biodiversity in the Thuligad watershed area.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 9, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
