Unidentified disease affecting trout goes undiagnosed for years, resulting in mass fish kill
BALAKOT:
The once profitable trout farming industry in Bhunja – a center of natural beauty and cold water resources in the Kaghan Valley – has been plunged into a serious crisis due to prolonged neglect by the government and the fisheries ministry.
Devastating floods over the past two years have not only damaged general infrastructure, but also destroyed water channels and ponds at dozens of fish farms. So far, no official financial assistance has been provided for their restoration.
Compounding the crisis, an unidentified disease affecting trout has gone undiagnosed for several years, resulting in mass fish kills and heavy economic losses for farmers.
Most fish farms in Bhunja were initially established under government ADP schemes. However, local farmers report that despite the presence of a government hatchery at Shino Jared, trout seed is still unavailable.
As a result, farmers are forced to procure seed from Gilgit-Baltistan and Swat, where it is sold at much higher prices. Added to this are steep transportation costs and losses caused by seed mortality en route, amounting to losses of hundreds of thousands of rupees.
In many areas of Bhunja, flood-damaged water channels are yet to be repaired, disrupting water supply, while fishponds remain in a state of disrepair. This has made trout farming increasingly unviable.
Faced with mounting losses and deteriorating investments, several farmers have already left the business, dealing a severe blow to the local economy.
