The Assam Fisheries Department plans to allow fishing at regular intervals in Dighalipukhuri to prevent a rerun of the mass death of fish reported over the weekend from the scenic lake. On Sunday, June 27, the Department fished out over 600 kgs of dead fish from the lake in Guwahati after locals reported finding dead fish floating on the surface. Officials rushed to the spot to find hundreds of dead and asphyxiated Rohu, Bhokua, Mirika, Common Carp, Silver Carp, Tilapia and other species of fish at the site. Assam Fisheries Officials probing the incident said that Dighalipukhuri has become overcrowded with big fish and their population density has become unsustainable due to the lack of fishing for over the last five years. In 2016, around 5000 fish roe were released into the lake as part of a conservation plan. On Sunday, officials were quick to determine that the water at the lake has been stagnant for a long time due to the closure of all activities under COVID-19 containment protocols. This led to the accumulation of surface algae, preventing saturation of oxygen from the air to the water. Assam Fishery Department officials found that dissolved oxygen depletion, coupled with high organic load, were the main reasons behind the staggering fish deaths.
An official stated that the dissolved oxygen (DO) levels at the lake were found to be 2 ppm (parts per million), against the desired range of 5 to 10 ppm. After Sunday’s incident, the Assam Fishery department has deployed a speed boat to run randomly over the surface of the lake during evenings and night to dislodge algae cover and increase oxygenation. Arrangements have also been made for artificial showers through fire tenders to aerate and increase oxygen levels in the water. A senior official of the Assam Fishery department told G Plus, “The investigating officials have given us long and short term suggestions to prevent such incidents in the future. We will check the pond for more dead fishes and will have to ensure fishing at regular intervals.” The official refused to comment on why no such measures were taken despite the Fishery department having a conservation project in Dighalipukhuri he added, “We can only give advice. These are policy matters and follow-up steps are taken as ordered only.” The department is mulling to hand over the fish culture project in the waterbody to the National Federation of Fishers Cooperative Limited (FISHCOPPED).
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