Trout Fishery And Its Management In High Altitude Himalaya
Fish inhabit nearly all aquatic environments, from high mountain streams to the deepest ocean. Fish are an important resource worldwide, especially as food and sports. Trout fish belonging to family Salmonidae is native to Europe, North Africa and Asia.
Brown trout has been established in USA, Canada, South America, Falklands, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea (Moyle, 2002). Brown trout was introduced to suitable waters elsewhere for its sporting qualities (Moss, 1998). The brown trout (Salmo trutta fario and S. trutta lacustris) and sea trout (S. trutta trutta) are fishes of the same species. The brown trout (S. trutta fario L.) is a stream resident of cold water in well oxygenated, fast flowing mountain streams. This species is of great interest because it is prized by anglers and has high economic value.
Management tools:
Angling regulations: Regulations are some of the least expensive and most effective tools for enhancing fish populations and diversifying fisheries. These management options offer promise for improvement of selected stocked and fisheries by restricting harvest. Responses of trout populations and fisheries to various minimum length limits have been described in detail by Clark et al. (1980).
Creel limits: Creel limits should be used in river to restrict the number of trout an angler can harvest per day. Moderate to low creel limits (2-5 trout/ day) prevent skilled anglers from harvesting excessive number of fishes and promote some catch and release fishing.
Catch and release regulations: Catch and release regulations, should be employed in for catching of brown trout, a minimum length (15 cm) limit provide the highest level of protection to fish population without eliminating fishing entirely.
Close and open season: Seasonal closures are used either to provide protection to trout during vulnerable time periods i.e. spawning period (October to January) or to provide a no fishing period when trout can be stocked. The provincial open season for brown trout extend from February to August. The conservation of trout has been genuinely overlooked. Though, in most of the stretch there is good number of brown trout, however there are places where fishing pressure has reduced the numbers.
References
Moyle, P.B. (2002). Inland fishes of California. Berkeley: University of California press.
Moss, B. (1998). Ecology of Freshwaters: Man and Medium, Past to Future. 3rd Edition, Blackwell Science Ltd.
Clark, R.D. Jr., Alexander, G.R. and Gowing, H. (1980). Mathematical description of trout-stream fisheries. Trans. Ameri. Fish. Soc. 109: 587-602.