An unidentified disease affecting trout remains undiagnosed for years, causing mass fish deaths
BALAKOT:
The once profitable trout farming industry in Bhunja, a center of natural beauty and cold water resources in the Kaghan Valley, has plunged into serious crisis due to prolonged negligence by the government and the Fisheries Department.
The devastating floods of the last two years not only damaged general infrastructure but also destroyed water channels and ponds in dozens of fish farms. To date no official financial assistance has been provided for its restoration.
Compounding the crisis, an unidentified disease affecting trout has gone undiagnosed for several years, leading to mass fish deaths and huge financial losses for aquaculturists.
Most of Bhunja’s fish farms were originally established under government ADP programmes. However, local farmers report that despite the presence of a government hatchery in Shino Jared, trout seeds remain unavailable.
As a result, farmers are forced to source seeds from Gilgit-Baltistan and Swat, where they are sold at much higher prices. Added to this are high transportation costs and losses caused by seed mortality en route, amounting to losses of hundreds of thousands of rupees.
In many areas of Bhunja, flood-damaged water channels are yet to be repaired, disrupting water supply, while fish ponds remain in poor condition. This has made trout farming increasingly unviable.
Faced with mounting losses and failed investments, several farmers have already left the business, dealing a severe blow to the local economy.
