Fishermen associations in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district have raised alarms over mass fish deaths in Wular Lake and the Jhelum River, blaming negligence of the occupation authorities to illegal fishing practices.
Members of the associations reported large-scale deaths of species including snow trout and seedlings, attributing the losses to widespread use of electro-shock fishing and gill nets in key breeding zones like Nichyari. North Kashmir Fishermen Association President Ghulam Hassan said a single electric shock could kill or stun hundreds of kilograms of fish, threatening the long-term livelihood of the community.
The associations also highlighted man-made barriers in Wular and the Jhelum that restrict fish movement, demanding immediate removal to protect breeding and immature fish. They claimed repeated appeals to the Fisheries Department, Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA), and district authorities had largely been ignored.
Assistant Director of Fisheries Bandipora, Muneer Ahmad, acknowledged pollution and illegal practices as major causes of fish deaths, while noting that habitual offenders had been booked under FIRs. He admitted barriers remained a hindrance due to lack of sophisticated machinery and manpower. The department said it was taking action against illegal fishing and releasing immature catches back into the water.
Fishermen urged prompt intervention and laboratory-based investigations to address the mass deaths, warning that failure to act could imperil both aquatic biodiversity and local livelihoods.
