After yearlong strenuous efforts, now much sought after Hilsa (Ilishi) fish is available in the Chilika lake.
Over one-kg Hilsa fishes are caught from the lagoon, which was just not seen for last 15 long years.
Hilsa production from Chilika dwindled drastically as their migratory route was blocked for which it became the major cause for their disappearance. Now keeping it open has resulted in good migration, said Chilika Development Authority (CDA) Chief Executive Susanta Nanda. “We have been running a project for restoration of Hilsa since last one year,” said Nanda.
Removal of prawn gheries has also opened up their nursing ground and the maximum catch was18-20 Metric Ton (MT) after opening of the new mouth. Hilsa catch had deteriorated to less than 10 per cent by 2017.
This year, it would be around 5 MT, a dramatic increase, pointed out Nanda.
As Hilsa availability dwindled drastically over the years, the CDA had undertaken a study to find out as to why it is falling and conserve the much wanted fish.
According to sources mouth watering Hilsa landing in Chilika lake had been 311 tonne in 1954, which dwindled to 10.51 tonne during 2016-17.
While the average annual landing of Hilsa was 95.17 tonne during 1985-86 and 2000-01, it decreased to 46.15 tonne between 2001-02 and 2016-17.
Over two lakh people depend on fishing in the Chilika, which is covering three districts of Puri, Khordha and Ganjam.