MUZAFFARABAD, May 26: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir wildlife and fisheries department has once again warned the anglers and poachers of a strict action for fishing a particular species from the rivers and reservoirs of the state.

Sardar Javaid Ayub, director of the department, told Dawn on Monday that his department had imposed a ban on the fishing of ‘Mahseer’ also known as dream fish of the anglers, almost five years ago because the species was on the verge of extinction due to “ruthless and illegal” poaching.

The renewed warning, he said, was issued after reports that some elements were flouting the ban. Though Mr Ayub did not blame anyone, but it was known that the poachers, including the employees of the Mangla dam fishing contractor, enjoyed tacit support of the local administration.

The Mahseer (Barbus tor putitora) is a cold water and migrating fish and moves to the warm water during winters.

Once commonly available in the waters of Azad Kashmir, especially in River Poonch and its tributaries and also in the area now home to Mangla Lake, the spectacular fish faced threat to its existence owing to continuous illegal fishing through fixed nets, electric currents, dynamiting and poisoning.

According to Mr Ayub, the Mangla dam area was the breeding ground of the Mahseer but when the dam was constructed in the 60’s, the authorities concerned did not construct fish ladders due to which its upstream movement for hatching and spawning was badly hampered and that subsequently also reduced the growth of this commercially important species.

Similarly, he said, the unchecked extraction of sand and gravel from riverside channels, which served as breeding ground of the Mahseer, had also contributed to its decline.

Fishing rights in the Mangla dam were enjoyed by the Wapda ever since its construction but were transferred to the AJK wildlife and fisheries department in 2003 under an agreement which paved the way for initiation of dam’s upraising project.

The ban on commercial fishing of Mahseer was imposed by the AJK wildlife and fisheries department in the same year and according to Mr Ayub prior to that there had not been any tangible steps for protection and conservation of this species.

Last year, the AJK wildlife and fisheries department awarded, through open bidding, the 3-year fishing contract to a Pakistani contractor against Rs45 million.

Mr Ayub said he had directed his staff in district Mirpur to check the consignments of the fishing contractor to ensure that the ban (on fishing of Mahseer) was not being violated.

In case, the fish was found in the consignments, the contractor would be blacklisted for good, he declared. However, Mr Ayub pointed out that the checking duties could not be carried out properly without cooperation from the district administration and police.

According to sources, a few days ago the contractor’s men had tried to run over the staff of fisheries department when they intercepted their vehicle, carrying the fish load, for the purpose of checking.

“The fisheries department is fragile with very limited watch and ward staff,” Mr Ayub said, adding that there were only four watchers to keep a vigil on poaching and angling by contractor and individuals in Mangla Lake, spread over 27,000 hectare area, comprising five pockets.