Over 6,000 pearlspot juveniles released into Vembanad Lake

As part of the ongoing drive to revive the dwindling fish population, the Alappuzha Social Forestry Division has released over 6,000 pearlspot (Karimeen) juveniles into the Vembanad Lake.

Part of Kuttanad package

The programme is being undertaken under the Kuttanad package with the active involvement of Vembanad Lake protection forum, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE), students and the local fishing community. Previously, participatory ranching of the indigenous fish species was undertaken at Shanmugham jetty (Mannancherry), Komalapuram (Aryad), Srayithodu (Muhamma), Varanam and Kannankara

(Thaneermukkom).

The 6,400 juveniles were released from near the Kainakary grama panchayat office. The effort has resulted in the ranching of nearly 37,000 fishes.

Threatened species

Launching the function, Kainakary grama panchayat president S. Sudhimon said the project being spearheaded by the Forest Department will prove effective in preserving the highly-threatened species, which has become a source of living for a large number of fishermen residing in the region. Assistant Conservator of Forests (Social Forestry) S. Sreekumar, ATREE programme officer T.D. Jojo and lake protection forum leader K.M. Poovu also spoke on the occasion.