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Our Correspondent
Imphal, March 15 (EMN): As a step towards rejuvenation of the depleted stock of Pengba (Osteobrama Belangeri)’, Manipur state fish, in its natural and original habitat, the officials of Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) in association with Manipur Fisheries department released around 20,000 fingerlings of Pengba in Loktak Lake for in situ conservation on Tuesday.
The programme for ranching of Pengba fingerlings in a phased manner has been carried out under the initiative of Dr. BK Das, Director of ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore, West Bengal. Director H Balkrishna Singh of Fisheries department led the officials during the programme.
Pengba is a near threatened indigenous medium carp endemic to Manipur. This state fish was the major seasonal fish in Manipur contributing around 40% of the natural fishery some decades back. In the recent past, the population of Pengba has declined significantly in the lake although some progressive fish farmers have cultivated it in their ponds.
The day’s ranching programme was attended by Dr. Sona Yengkokpam, Senior Scientist, Dr. SCS Das, Scientist, Dr. NS Singh, Scientist and T Nirupada Chanu, Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI and K Dineshwar Singh, DFO, Bishnupur among others. About 100 fishers and local leaders of Sendra island participated in the programme.