Mahseer Survival Conservation of Golden mahseer Tor putitora: Innovations to Policy Interventions

The author describes the threats faced by the mahseer population and explains ways to minimize the looming peril to the species.

- DR HARENDRA SINGH BARGALI

Mahseer, popularly regarded as the Tiger (king) among the freshwater fish, belongs to genera Tor, Neolissochilus and Naziritor of the Cyprinidae family. Throughout the world there are 47 species of mahseer, of which 15 species exist in India, where they are considered as important game fish by both national and international anglers. Golden mahseer, Tor putitora, is a widely distributed species in Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan. The fish can attain over 50 kg weight and grow to a length of about 2.75 meters. The golden mahseer is an omnivore, i.e., it eats all sorts of prey and vegetable matters. With the onset of monsoon, heavy rains cause flooding in the rivers which provides necessary stimulus to brooders and triggers upstream migration for spawning, necessary to facilitate successful reproduction.