118
Fish
The common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) has been
introduced into the waterbodies of J&K in 1959 to
augment fi sh yield (Sehgal 1989). It has now
become a major commercial fi sh in the Kashmir
Valley. Its catch rate in 1977 was 850 grammes per
man hour; in 1984 it was only 325 g/m/h.
Sometimes, however, their stock and mean size has
been declining owing to heavy fi shing pressure
(Raina 1987). Moreover, their introduction is generally debated in connection with their potential
impact on schizothoracines. It may be noted here
that 500 fi ngerlings of common carp were released
into Lake Dal in 1956. Since then, the species had
been spreading into almost all the lentic bodies and
slow-fl owing and meandering rivers in the Kashmir
Valley. Das and Subla (1970) reported a sharp
increase in common carp catches in Lake Dal, with
the once abundant schizothoracine species having
been virtually ousted. It is believed that the endemic
schizothoracines are fast losing their ground in
Kashmir lakes due to the higher fecundity of common carp and its habit of spawning in confi ned
waters (Sunder et al. 1979). Licence fi shing for
trout is allowed in the state of J&K.
The major fi sh species in fl oodplain lakes of
Kashmir Valley are Schizothorax niger , S. micropogon , Schizothorax , sp, S . planifrons , Schizothoraichthys esocinus , Labeo dero , L . dyocheilus ,
Crossocheilus latius , Puntius conchonius ,
Glyptothorax kashmirensis , Gambusia affi nis , etc.
Schizothoracines are highly valued and preferred
fi sh. They feed on detritus, periphyton, the associated invertebrate fauna, etc. They grow slowly and
usually mature at the age of 2 years (Sunder and
Subla 1984). All species of the group, except S.
niger , exhibit spawning migration into the incoming streams and rivers where they lay eggs in shallow pools amidst gravel and sand. However, in
lakes, S. niger prefers clean and cold pockets of
water for laying eggs. It also lays eggs on the roots
of willow trees (Vass and Raina 1979). The spawning season extends from spring to early summer.
Their average fecundity range between 10,000 and
40,000 eggs per kg body weight, the lowest being
in S. niger and the highest in S. esocinus . During
the breeding season, schizothoracines exhibit
sexual dimorphism (Raina 1976).
Notwithstanding the above, it may be noted
here that, of the twelve lakes, six contain fi sh.
Four lakes (Gangabal, Nundkul, Kishansar and
Vishansar) contain the exotic brown trout (Vass
et al . 1989). Lakes Gadsar and Zumsar have an
endemic schizothoracine, namely, Diptychus
maculates , which is also present in the infl owing
streams. It feeds mainly on attached benthic
plants, zoobenthos, etc. and may reach 225 mm
and 125 g at 7 years of age. It has a low fecundity
of up to 380 eggs (in a 125 g female). It is fi shed
for subsistence by herdsmen during summer.
Tsomoriri Lake in Ladakh
In Ladakh, two lakes are important, namely, (a)
Lake Moriri (Plate 6.35 ), which is one of the largest HA lakes in the country, and (b) Pangong Tso
Lake, which is divided between India and China.
Shey Marshes
These marshes lie at an altitude of 3,660 m MSL,
between 34° 10′ N and 77° 90′ E, about 14 km
SE of Leh, Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. There
are small marshy tracts along the Indus.
Construction of a road had bisected the marsh
into two unequal parts. There is also a fi sh pond
in the SW side of the marsh which is maintained
by the State Fisheries Department. The region
has typical arid, Tibetan climate with much difference between day and night temperatures.
Humidity is low and the average annual rainfall is
only about 75 mm. Summer temperature ranges
from 0 to 30 °C while the winter temperature varies from −10 to −40 °C.
The marshes are used for fi shing. Construction
of roads and houses has been causing shrinkage
of the marshy area. The marshes serve as possible
transit habitats for long-distance migratory birds.
Tsomoriri in Ladakh
Tsomoriri (Plate 6.35 ) or Lake Moriri (offi cial
name: Tsomoriri Wetland Conservation Reserve),
is a high altitude lake (HAL), lying at an altitude
of 4,595 m MSL, between 32° 54′ N and 78° 18′
E, in the Changthang (literal meaning, northern
plains) area in Ladakh, India. The lake is located
to the SE of Leh in eastern Ladakh, Jammu and
Kashmir, at a distance of 215 km. It is one of the
6 Lakes of the World
Fish
The common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) has been
introduced into the waterbodies of J&K in 1959 to
augment fi sh yield (Sehgal 1989). It has now
become a major commercial fi sh in the Kashmir
Valley. Its catch rate in 1977 was 850 grammes per
man hour; in 1984 it was only 325 g/m/h.
Sometimes, however, their stock and mean size has
been declining owing to heavy fi shing pressure
(Raina 1987). Moreover, their introduction is generally debated in connection with their potential
impact on schizothoracines. It may be noted here
that 500 fi ngerlings of common carp were released
into Lake Dal in 1956. Since then, the species had
been spreading into almost all the lentic bodies and
slow-fl owing and meandering rivers in the Kashmir
Valley. Das and Subla (1970) reported a sharp
increase in common carp catches in Lake Dal, with
the once abundant schizothoracine species having
been virtually ousted. It is believed that the endemic
schizothoracines are fast losing their ground in
Kashmir lakes due to the higher fecundity of common carp and its habit of spawning in confi ned
waters (Sunder et al. 1979). Licence fi shing for
trout is allowed in the state of J&K.
The major fi sh species in fl oodplain lakes of
Kashmir Valley are Schizothorax niger , S. micropogon , Schizothorax , sp, S . planifrons , Schizothoraichthys esocinus , Labeo dero , L . dyocheilus ,
Crossocheilus latius , Puntius conchonius ,
Glyptothorax kashmirensis , Gambusia affi nis , etc.
Schizothoracines are highly valued and preferred
fi sh. They feed on detritus, periphyton, the associated invertebrate fauna, etc. They grow slowly and
usually mature at the age of 2 years (Sunder and
Subla 1984). All species of the group, except S.
niger , exhibit spawning migration into the incoming streams and rivers where they lay eggs in shallow pools amidst gravel and sand. However, in
lakes, S. niger prefers clean and cold pockets of
water for laying eggs. It also lays eggs on the roots
of willow trees (Vass and Raina 1979). The spawning season extends from spring to early summer.
Their average fecundity range between 10,000 and
40,000 eggs per kg body weight, the lowest being
in S. niger and the highest in S. esocinus . During
the breeding season, schizothoracines exhibit
sexual dimorphism (Raina 1976).
Notwithstanding the above, it may be noted
here that, of the twelve lakes, six contain fi sh.
Four lakes (Gangabal, Nundkul, Kishansar and
Vishansar) contain the exotic brown trout (Vass
et al . 1989). Lakes Gadsar and Zumsar have an
endemic schizothoracine, namely, Diptychus
maculates , which is also present in the infl owing
streams. It feeds mainly on attached benthic
plants, zoobenthos, etc. and may reach 225 mm
and 125 g at 7 years of age. It has a low fecundity
of up to 380 eggs (in a 125 g female). It is fi shed
for subsistence by herdsmen during summer.
Tsomoriri Lake in Ladakh
In Ladakh, two lakes are important, namely, (a)
Lake Moriri (Plate 6.35 ), which is one of the largest HA lakes in the country, and (b) Pangong Tso
Lake, which is divided between India and China.
Shey Marshes
These marshes lie at an altitude of 3,660 m MSL,
between 34° 10′ N and 77° 90′ E, about 14 km
SE of Leh, Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. There
are small marshy tracts along the Indus.
Construction of a road had bisected the marsh
into two unequal parts. There is also a fi sh pond
in the SW side of the marsh which is maintained
by the State Fisheries Department. The region
has typical arid, Tibetan climate with much difference between day and night temperatures.
Humidity is low and the average annual rainfall is
only about 75 mm. Summer temperature ranges
from 0 to 30 °C while the winter temperature varies from −10 to −40 °C.
The marshes are used for fi shing. Construction
of roads and houses has been causing shrinkage
of the marshy area. The marshes serve as possible
transit habitats for long-distance migratory birds.
Tsomoriri in Ladakh
Tsomoriri (Plate 6.35 ) or Lake Moriri (offi cial
name: Tsomoriri Wetland Conservation Reserve),
is a high altitude lake (HAL), lying at an altitude
of 4,595 m MSL, between 32° 54′ N and 78° 18′
E, in the Changthang (literal meaning, northern
plains) area in Ladakh, India. The lake is located
to the SE of Leh in eastern Ladakh, Jammu and
Kashmir, at a distance of 215 km. It is one of the
6 Lakes of the World