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Fisheries Department in Sikkim Was established at the fag end of Fifth Five Year Plan. Since then, the department initiated various projects for effective utilisation and management of the available water resources for fish production in order to move towards fulfilling the protein requirement/gap in the diet of the Sikkimese population.

Sikkim has two major rivers, Teesta and Rangeet, with a total length of 900 km. These rivers originate from the glaciers of North and West Sikkim. Along with myriads of tributaries, the rivers harbour a di verse and rich fish fauna. The most important of these are the Snow Trout (Schizothorax sp.) Mahaseer (Tor putitora). Cat fishes (Glyptothorax spp., Bagarius sp., Pseudechencies sp.) and a number of Cyprinids e.g Garra spp., Barilius spp. etc. The total annual fish yield contributed by Sikkim’s riverine fisheries is of the order of 150 t. About 1500-2000 villagers living close to the river banks are engaged in part-time fishing. The cold water species are highly esteemed by the local inhabitants. They fetch a good price. A kg is sold at a cost of Rs. 50 to 60. This shows that Sikkim’s fishery wealth serves as a source of additional income to the poor villagers.

In order to maintain the yield at a sustainable level and to conserve some of the rare and endangered fish species of Sikkim waters, it is prioritised to implement conservation measures strictly. Enforcement of fishing law has been taken up by employing field staff along the river bank where there is high fishing pressure. The field staff are entrusted with the responsibility to issue fishing licenses and check all types of illegal fishing like poisoning dynamiting etc.

The lower belt of the Teesta and toe Rangeet rivers harbour one of the most popular game fish, Mahaseer (Tor putitora). But it is very unfortunate to note that this precious game fish population has already dwindled and the species is under the threat of becoming rare. Fishery, has, however, now hopes of recovery with the construction of an Experimental Mahaseer Breeding Farm at Bagua by diversion of the course of river Rangeet in South Sikkim at an elevation of 300 msl. The farm is for rearing of salvaged Mahaseer fry, which will be stocked in the lower belt of the State in order to save this fish from getting extinct.

Since the majority of the rivers and streams of Sikkim originate from glaciers and are snow fed, about two third of the river length along with a number of high altitude lakes fall above 6000' msl and are virgin due to the absence of indigenous fish fauna. The Fisheries Department has already established a Brown Trout (Salmo fario) hatchery at Menmoitso at an elevation of 12000 msl. in East Sikkim. The Hatchery is operational since 1979 and is producing 2 to 3 lakhs of trout fry every year. Trout is the only cold water species that can thrive well in these waters. The seeds produced at the hatchery are transported and stocked in all the high altitude lakes and streams so as to enrich the waters of the State with this exotic game fish for popularizing sport fishery, which is beneficial to both the local inhabitants and the Government through revenue.

The temperate and the sub-tropical regions of the State within an elevation range of 300-600 msl. is very conducive for warm water fish culture. Because of its location in the wettest part of the Himalayas. Sikkim receives beautiful monsoon rains from May till October. As a result, besides marshy lands, the paddy fields remain heavily inundated with water for more than 3 to 4 months a year. The small rivulets swell up and attain higher discharge.

In order to make the best use of these water bodies, three major culture fishery systems have been introduced by the State fisheries department. These are of 1. Common Carps; 2. Indian Major Carps and 3. Chinese Carps

The fisheries department has already established a number of Fish Seed Production cum Demonstration Farms at various places like Soreng, Geyzing, Rorathang, Rangpo. etc. The annual production of fish seed in the state is estimated to be one million.

The inception of an FFDA set-up in the State in the year 1991-92. has created the climate to provide encouragement to villagers to take up fish farming on their own. FFDAs have generated employment and additional income and set the state on the path of State self-reliance in food production. The Agency has already provided subsidy to 1300 families link with bank loan for adopting fish culture till 2000-2001. The villagers selected are given loans and imparted training on Fish Farm Management/Fish Culture by fishery personnel and they are also supplied with fish seed at a reasonably low cost for taking up commercial fish culture.

A rapid development within short span on forestry, roads and bridges have resulted in habitat loss leading in turn to the loss of biodiversity and several other problems. Before formulating appropriate exploitation and utilization measures, it has become necessary to assess the overall potentialities of the available water resources of the State. Accordingly, a pilot research project, on fish fauna assessment of Sikkim water has been undertaken by fisheries department involving an exhaustive survey of the Teesta and the Rangeet rivers and their major tributaries. The research results would bring out a detailed picture of the capture fishery potential in existing water resources including resource potentials at various gradients

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